Attached files

file filename
EX-4.9 - EXHIBIT 4.9 - CFN Enterprises Inc.ex4-9.htm
EX-4.8 - EXHIBIT 4.8 - CFN Enterprises Inc.ex4-8.htm
EX-4.7 - EXHIBIT 4.7 - CFN Enterprises Inc.ex4-7.htm
EX-23.1 - EXHIBIT 23.1 - CFN Enterprises Inc.ex23-1.htm
EX-32.1 - EXHIBIT 32.1 - CFN Enterprises Inc.ex32-1.htm
EX-10.9 - EXHIBIT 10.9 - CFN Enterprises Inc.ex10-9.htm
EX-31.2 - EXHIBIT 31.2 - CFN Enterprises Inc.ex31-2.htm
EX-32.2 - EXHIBIT 32.2 - CFN Enterprises Inc.ex32-2.htm
EX-31.1 - EXHIBIT 31.1 - CFN Enterprises Inc.ex31-1.htm
EX-10.11 - EXHIBIT 10.11 - CFN Enterprises Inc.ex10-11.htm
EX-10.21 - EXHIBIT 10.21 - CFN Enterprises Inc.ex10-21.htm
EX-10.13 - EXHIBIT 10.13 - CFN Enterprises Inc.ex10-13.htm
EXCEL - IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT - CFN Enterprises Inc.Financial_Report.xls

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014

 

or

 

[   ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from ___________ to _________.

 

Commission file number 000-52635

 

ACCELERIZE INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

20-3858769

(State of Incorporation)

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

20411 SW BIRCH STREET, SUITE 250

NEWPORT BEACH

CALIFORNIA 92660

(Address of principal  executive  offices) (Zip Code)

 

 Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (949) 515 2141

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock, par value $0.001

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes [  ]  No [X]

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes [  ]  No [X]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant:  (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes [X]  No [   ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes [X]  No [  ]

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  [  ]

 

 
 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer [   ]

Accelerated filer [  ]

 

 

Non-accelerated filer [   ]

Smaller reporting company [X]

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

                                                                       

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes [  ]  No [ X]

 

The aggregate market value of the common equity voting shares of the registrant held by non-affiliates on June 30, 2014, the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was $60,517,116. For purposes of this calculation, an aggregate of 10,175,242 shares of Common Stock were held by the directors and officers of the registrant on June 30, 2014 and have been included in the number of shares of Common Stock held by affiliates.

 

The number of the registrant’s shares of Common Stock outstanding as of March 17, 2015: 62,823,458

 

In this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the terms the “Company,” “Accelerize,” “we,” “us” or “our” refers to Accelerize Inc., unless the context indicates otherwise.


 

WARNING CONCERNING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

THIS ANNUAL REPORT CONTAINS STATEMENTS WHICH CONSTITUTE FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS. ALSO, WHENEVER WE USE WORDS SUCH AS “BELIEVE,” “EXPECT,” “ANTICIPATE,” “INTEND,” “PLAN,” “ESTIMATE,” “MAY,” “PREDICT,” “WILL,” “POTENTIAL,” OR SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS, WE ARE MAKING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE DISCUSS OUR EXPECTATIONS THAT OUR REVENUES WILL INCREASE IN 2015, OUR INTENTIONS TO GROW REVENUES BY INVESTING IN SALES AND MARKETING EFFORTS, OUR SPENDING ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING, ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL, THE INTERNET MARKET TRENDS, AND SPECIFICALLY, THE GROWTH IN ON-LINE ADVERTISING, PERFORMANCE BASED MARKETING, AND SOFTWARE-AS-A-SERVICE, AND OUR EXPECTATIONS BASED ON SUCH TRENDS, WE ARE USING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS. THESE FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE BASED UPON OUR PRESENT INTENT, BELIEFS OR EXPECTATIONS, BUT FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE NOT GUARANTEED TO OCCUR AND MAY NOT OCCUR.  ACTUAL RESULTS MAY DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE CONTAINED IN OR IMPLIED BY OUR FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS AS A RESULT OF VARIOUS FACTORS.

 

IMPORTANT FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE IN OUR FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS INCLUDE, AMONG OTHERS, GENERAL MARKET CONDITIONS, INCLUDING WEAKNESS IN THE ECONOMY, REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS AND OTHER CONDITIONS WHICH ARE NOT WITHIN OUR CONTROL.

 

OTHER RISKS MAY ADVERSELY IMPACT US, AS DESCRIBED MORE FULLY IN THIS ANNUAL REPORT UNDER “ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.”

 

YOU SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE RELIANCE UPON FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS.

 

EXCEPT AS REQUIRED BY LAW, WE UNDERTAKE NO OBLIGATION TO UPDATE OR REVISE ANY FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS AS A RESULT OF NEW INFORMATION, FUTURE EVENTS OR OTHERWISE.

 

 
 

 

 

ACCELERIZE INC.

(Formerly Accelerize New Media, Inc.)

2014 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

 

Table of Contents

 

  

  

Page

     
PART I
     

Item 1.

Business

4

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

7

Item 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments

13

Item 2.

Properties

13

Item 3.

Legal Proceedings

13

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

14

  

PART II

  

Item 5.

Market For the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

14

Item 6.

Selected Financial Data

15

Item 7.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

15

Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

22

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

22

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

22

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures

23

Item 9B.

Other Information

23

  

  

  

PART III

  

  

  

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

24

Item 11.

Executive Compensation

25

Item 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

28

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

28

Item 14.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

29

  

  

  

PART IV

  

  

  

Item 15.

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

29

 

 
 

 

 

PART I

 

Item 1.  Business

 

Overview

 

We own and operate CAKE, and getcake.com, a marketing technology that provides a comprehensive suite of innovative marketing intelligence tools. Our powerful software-as-a service, or SaaS, is an enterprise solution that has been an industry standard for affiliate networks, advertisers, publishers and agencies to measurably improve and optimize digital spend. We currently have over 500 customers driving billions of consumer actions monthly through the CAKE enterprise platform.

 

On September 30, 2014, we announced a new product offering, CAKE for Advertisers, SaaS solution purpose built for brand advertisers to unify the tracking, attribution and optimization of digital marketing spend across search, display, email, video, social, affiliate and other marketing channels. The product launch signaled an expansion of our go-to-market strategy from primarily providing performance-marketing solutions for affiliate networks (CAKE for Networks) to providing an enterprise digital marketing hub for advertisers. CAKE for Advertisers allows brands to move beyond the confines of siloed data to track, attribute and optimize digital marketing campaigns in real-time. This new CAKE for Advertisers product is well-positioned within the worldwide digital ad spend market – a market that eMarketer reports will reach $137.53 billion this year and claim over one-quarter of all ad dollars.

 

On December 16, 2014, Gartner, Inc. named the Company as a Vendor to Watch in its “Magic Quadrant for Digital Marketing Hubs” report. The new research is intended for chief marketing officers (CMOs), chief marketing technologists and other digital marketing leaders involved in the selection of core systems to support digital marketing business requirements. According to Gartner, we appeal to enterprise performance marketers that desire strong accountability and to publishers offering a pay-for-performance pricing model. In line with our affiliate roots, CAKE for Advertisers emphasizes the tracking of media spending directly to sales.

 

The CAKE SaaS proprietary marketing platform is used by some of the world’s leading companies and largest customer-base of enterprise affiliate marketing networks and advertisers. CAKE’s solutions are based on reliable, feature rich technology and are bolstered by the industry’s leading customer service and top tier technology partners-assuring the highest level of uptime.

 

Our revenue model is based on a monthly license fee, a usage fee (based on volume of clicks, impressions, events, or leads), and a training and implementation fee. Clients purchase annual or monthly subscriptions with an additional usage fee. A majority of our revenue is derived from clients in the United States but we have seen over 200% year on year growth this past year from our European client base. During November 2012, we formed Cake Marketing UK Ltd, or the Subsidiary, a private limited company, which is our wholly-owned subsidiary located in the United Kingdom in order to better provide our services in the European market.

 

Our business is currently headquartered in Newport Beach, California, with operations in Santa Monica, California, New York, New York, Sydney, Australia and London, England, allowing us to provide global support to our client base. We are looking to expand our footprint with additional locations in the United States, South America, Europe and India. The CAKE platform supports multiple languages and currencies so online marketers can track the performance of their marketing campaigns and better target their digital spend on a global scale.

 

The CAKE platform’s breath of capabilities provides opportunities in many of the major verticals like financial services, travel, technology, entertainment, gaming, and automotive.

 

CAKE’s mobile tracking technology allows a marketer to track application, or app, installs and more importantly events that take place within the app, so the digital marketer knows that the app was installed and what the user is doing within that app: for example, buying items, depositing funds, and referring friends. This all contributes to the marketer’s understanding of the value of that user and may effectively alter advertising spends to target profitable users.

 

Retail tracking is an opportunity CAKE has introduced into the suite of features. This enables retailers to track the effectiveness of an online campaign at the individual product or SKU level. Retail tracking provides insight into the real value or actual products that are being sold from a specific digital ad. This is important to enable marketers to track which products are being sold from the advertisement placements. In the retail market CAKE has developed a technology that is enabling advertisers to work directly with publishers. With the CAKE platform advertisers now eliminate paying commission fees, develop direct relationships with the affiliates, and gain the transparency needed to make decisions to positively affect their digital spend return on investment.

 

Our training, support personnel, hosting and cloud-based infrastructure contribute to our cost of operating the business. We anticipate more spending in these areas while we continue to grow and could foresee some savings in infrastructure cost due to economies of scale. However, we want to continue to invest in these areas to support our growth. To go-to-market with our new product, CAKE for Advertisers, enterprise sales representatives were added and marketing programs were created to properly launch and market the product to global advertisers. In addition, development resources were required to design and develop CAKE for Advertisers. Those resources were used to purpose our software platform for advertisers, and to create specific integrations to third party technologies that include, but are not limited to, Google AdWords, Bing Ads, YouTube, Facebook, DoubleClick for Advertisers and Marketo.

 

We intend to grow revenues by investing in sales, marketing, and product development and innovation. We are currently hiring and will continue to hire sales executives globally to target specific verticals and accounts with both agencies and advertisers. We will allocate a significant portion of our marketing budget to being present at tradeshows, industry publications, and providing the support documentation required by sales initiatives. Additional efforts will be made to speak at industry events and write for online publications increasing awareness of the CAKE suite of products and the thought leadership driving product development.

 

 
4

 

 

Our principal offices are located at 20411 SW Birch Street, Suite 250, Newport Beach, CA 92660. Our telephone number there is: (949) 515-2141. Our corporate website is: www.accelerize.com, the contents of which are not part of this annual report.

 

Our Common Stock is quoted on the OTCQB Marketplace under the symbol "ACLZ".

 

Industry and Market Opportunity

  

  

In April 2014, eMarketer predicted that digital ad spending worldwide would hit $137.53 billion in 2014 and that spending on digital ads would make up around one-quarter of total media ad spending around the world. 

International Data Corporation, or IDC, cloud research predicted that spending on public IT cloud services would reach $47.4 billion in 2013 and is expected to be more than $107 billion in 2017. Over the 2013–2017 forecast period, IDC believes public IT cloud services will have a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.5%, five times that of the industry overall. 

IDC predicts that by 2016, $1 out of every $5 spent on software will be spent on cloud-based software.

The mobile SaaS market is expected to grow to $16.6 billion by 2016, with a compound annual growth rate of 29.5%, according to Strategy Analytics. 

Forrester forecasts that the global market for cloud computing will grow to $118.7 billion by 2014.

Global spending on advertising is expected to grow from $480 billion in 2012 to $619 billion in 2017, according to Magna Global.

 

 

Additional Characteristics

 

Managing online marketing campaigns is still a costly proposition.  CPMs (cost per thousand impressions) tend to be slightly higher than other traditional media.  Accordingly, customer acquisitions costs can easily become astronomical, if left unchecked.  Risks associated with customer acquisition costs are as follows:

 

Anonymity of customer base:  It is extremely difficult to identify the demographics, geographics, and psychographics of online users, even with existing search tools, which may leave paid leads unutilized;

Fraudulent procurement or creation of customer leads:  Some publishers provide fraudulent data to advertisers to increase their revenue, which artificially increases customer acquisition costs without increasing revenues;

Performance of online marketing programs is poorly measured and not automated: For example, campaign costs based on clicks and conversions are measured at the campaign period without any controls. Additionally, there is no immediate feedback on determining which banners are more effective than others; and

Information about online campaigns between advertisers and affiliates is not automated, which may lead to inefficient relationships: Advertisers rely largely on affiliates to acquire customers. However, advertisers are unable to provide timely information about their campaigns to affiliates and advertisers do not receive timely information about each affiliate’s productivity per campaign. 

 

The business environment for our SaaS platform is characterized as follows:

 

Larger advertisers are evaluating mission-critical software, such as ours, to manage their online performance-based initiatives. Such companies are factoring whether it is more beneficial to them to either develop their own technology or license it from third-parties, such as us;

As the online performance-based market grows, there are new entrants as solution providers, who are competing mostly on price and less on richness of features and performance tools;

We believe that our existing and potential customer base continues to look for more measurable results in their online performance-based growth; and

We believe there are opportunities to increase our number of clients globally where companies are adopting and implementing online performance-based initiatives.

 

Our Solutions

 

We believe that our business depends upon the continuing increase of consumer and business use of the Internet and mobile devices as primary tools to facilitate research, communications and transactions. 

 

 
5

 

Software-as-a-Service for Performance Based Marketing

 

We own and operate CAKE, getcake.com, an internally-developed SaaS platform. CAKE is a SaaS enterprise solution delivering marketing intelligence across the highest-value digital channels with tracking and attribution for display mobile, retail, lead generation and affiliate. From tracking and reporting to lead distribution, our software enables advertisers, affiliate marketers and lead generators a scalable and accurate marketing intelligence platform developed with a combination of innovative technology and an imaginative approach to doing business online.

 

CAKE allows users to qualify their leads using business rules, reducing the number of fraudulent leads.  It also allows for real-time management of customer acquisition costs and realization rates for each marketing program, specific product campaign and lead source.  Additional performance tools allow for user analysis of customer-centric performance as well as real-time consolidated data.  Also, our software enables access to certain demographics for each potential lead, revealing trends relevant to marketers.

 

Benefits to our clients:

 

Real-time reporting and monitoring of lead and conversion rates, per campaign and per lead source;

Monitoring of fraudulent customer leads;

Reduced costs to customers from overall IT infrastructure and personnel savings;

Setting and modifying budget limits to cap leads and conversions;

Providing marketing intelligence tools that allow granular visibility to demographic and geographic data of online users; and

Enhancing the relationship between advertisers and affiliates.

 

We leverage off the expertise of the following third-party companies in providing our services:

 

Rackspace Hosting, which operates in the hosting and cloud computing industry. It provides information technology (IT) as a service, managing Web-based IT systems for small and medium-sized businesses, as well as large enterprises worldwide;

Amazon Web Services, which operates cloud computing hosting environments; and

Microsoft Corporation, which provides software and related platforms for commercial and private users.

 

How we market our services

 

Software-as-a-Service for Performance Based Marketing

 

We use our internal sales force to market CAKE to online marketers.  Additionally we market our software through www.getcake.com, and by attending industry trade shows and events.  Our clients utilize our software to provide performance-based marketing services to corporations worldwide.

  

Intellectual Property

 

Our employees are required to execute confidentiality and non-use agreements that transfer any rights they may have in copyrightable works or patentable technologies to us. In addition, prior to entering into discussions with potential business partners or customers regarding our business and technologies, we generally require that such parties enter into nondisclosure agreements with us. If these discussions result in a license or other business relationship, we also generally require that the agreement setting forth the parties’ respective rights and obligations include provisions for the protection of our intellectual property rights. For example, the standard language in our agreements provides that we retain ownership of all patents and copyrights in our technologies and requires our customers to display our copyright and trademark notices. As of December 31, 2014, we do not have any registered or pending patents or trademarks, except for a Service Mark (Reg. No. 4,225,522) issued on October 16, 2012 by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office which consists of geometric shapes arranged to resemble a multi-layered slice of cake.

  

Competition

 

CAKE for Networks has competitors in each of the channels that we track and support. Competitors in the affiliate tracking industry include TUNE/HasOffers and HitPath. Impact Radius is a privately-held company with a performance and direct response advertising platform focused on retail tracking.  Competitors in the mobile tracking sector include TUNE/Mobile App Tracking and Kochava.

 

Competitors for CAKE for Advertisers are specific to the product’s functionality. For attribution, our competitors include Google/Adometry, AOL/Convertro and VisualIQ. For analytics and data visualization competitors include Oragami Logic and Becken. For advertisers that advertise within an affiliate channel, but that want direct relationships with their publishers, Conversant (acquired by ADS) and Rakuten offer service-based solutions, but do not provide software.

 

Our SaaS competitors have significantly greater capital, technology, resources, and brand recognition than we do. We differentiate from our competition by providing an enterprise suite of SaaS, cloud-based marketing intelligence solutions. Most competitors have single channel solutions or have a services model. 

 
6

 

 

Government Regulation

 

Although there are currently relatively few laws and regulations directly applicable to our software and the Internet, it is possible that new laws and regulations will be adopted in the United States and elsewhere. The adoption of restrictive laws or regulations could slow or otherwise affect Internet growth and the development or usage of our software. The application of existing laws and regulations governing Internet and software issues such as property ownership, libel and personal privacy is also subject to substantial uncertainty. There can be no assurance that current or new government laws and regulations, or the application of existing laws and regulations (including laws and regulations governing issues such as property ownership, taxation, defamation and personal injury) will not expose us to significant liabilities, slow Internet growth and the development or usage of our software or otherwise hurt us financially.

 

Research and Development

 

During 2013 and 2014, we incurred research and development expenses of approximately $1,425,000 and $3,143,000, respectively, in order to further enhance our CAKE software.

 

Employees

 

As of December 31, 2014, we had 97 full-time employees, including all of our executive officers. None of our employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements, and we believe our relationships with our employees to be good.

 

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

Our business faces risks.  If any of the events or circumstances described in the following risks actually occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could suffer, and the trading price of our common stock could decline. Our investors and prospective investors should consider the following risks and the information contained under the heading "Warning Concerning Forward Looking Statements" before deciding to invest in our common stock.

 

Our resources are limited and it may impact how we implement our growth strategy which may impact our operations.

 

Our resources are limited. Our working capital at December 31, 2014 amounts to approximately $1,675,000. As we implement our growth strategy, poor strategic design or execution could impact negatively our operations and our cash flows. We expect that our expenses will continue to increase as we continue to develop and implement our products and services. Our capital requirements may vary materially from those currently planned if, for example, we incur unforeseen capital expenditures, incur unforeseen operating expenses, or make investments to maintain our competitive position. If this is the case, we may have to delay or abandon some or all of our development plans or otherwise forego market opportunities. We will need to generate significant revenues to be profitable in the future, and we may not generate sufficient revenues to be profitable on either a quarterly or annual basis in the future.

 

We have a history of losses.

 

We have a history of losses and negative cash flows from operations. In contrast to our profitability in 2012 and 2013, we had a net loss of approximately $3.3 million in 2014 and net loss of approximately $1.2 million in 2011. Our operations have been financed primarily through proceeds from the issuance of equity, borrowings under promissory notes, and use of a line of credit. We may continue to incur losses in the future.

 

 
7

 

 

Our quarterly financial results will fluctuate, making it difficult to forecast our results of operation.

 

Our revenues and operating results may vary significantly from quarter to quarter due to a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control, including:

 

Variability in demand and usage for our products and services;

 

Market acceptance of new and existing services offered by us, our competitors and potential competitors; and

 

Governmental regulations affecting the use of the Internet, including regulations concerning intellectual property rights and security features.

  

Our current and future levels of expenditures are based primarily on our growth plans and estimates of expected future revenues. If our operating results fall below the expectation of investors, our stock price will likely decline significantly.

 

We face risks related to the macro economy.

 

Continued uncertainty in global economic conditions continues to pose a risk to the overall economy and has adversely affected the online advertising market, which is now highly competitive. These economic conditions have impacted consumer confidence and customer demand for our products, as well as our ability to borrow money to finance our operations, to maintain our key employees, and to manage normal commercial relationships with our customers, suppliers and creditors. For example, customers have spent less on online advertising and other services. Although the economic outlook has improved since the credit crisis, if a worsening of current conditions or another economic crisis were to occur, our business and results of operations will continue to be negatively impacted.

 

We face intense competition from other software providers. 

 

We compete with many software providers for consumers' attention and spending. Our competitors may have substantially greater capital, longer operating histories, greater brand recognition, larger customer bases and significantly greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do. Our competitors may also engage in more extensive development of their technologies and may adopt more comprehensive marketing and advertising campaigns than we can. Our competitors may develop products and service offerings that we do not offer or that are more sophisticated or more cost effective than our own. For these and other reasons, our competitors' products and services may achieve greater acceptance in the marketplace than our own, limiting our ability to gain market share and customer loyalty and to generate sufficient revenues to achieve a profitable level of operations. Our failure to adequately address any of the above factors could harm our business and operating results.

 

In addition, as the barriers to entry in our market segment are not substantial, an unlimited number of new competitors could emerge, thereby making our goal of establishing a market presence even more difficult. Because our management expects competition in our market segment to continue to intensify, there can be no assurances we will ever establish a competitive position in our market segment.

 

Our software may not be successful in gaining market acceptance.

 

We have invested a substantial amount of time and money in developing and launching our proprietary platform which has resulted in annual revenues of approximately $16.5 million in 2014. We may have difficulties in reaching market acceptance due to potential technical delays and malfunctions which may result in additional expenses and our continual increase in market acceptance will require additional sales, marketing and other customer-acquisition support expenses.

 

 
8

 

If we are unable to attract new customers or sell additional services and functionality to our existing customers, our revenue growth will be adversely affected.

 

To increase our revenues, we must add new customers, encourage existing customers to renew their license agreements on terms favorable to us, increase their usage of our solutions, and sell additional functionality to existing customers. As our industry matures, as interactive channels develop further, or as competitors introduce lower cost and/or differentiated products or services that are perceived to compete with ours, our ability to sell and renew based on pricing, technology and functionality could be impaired. As a result, we may be unable to renew our agreements with existing customers or attract new customers or new business from existing customers on terms that would be favorable or comparable to prior periods, which could have an adverse effect on our revenue and growth, as well as our profitability and financial condition.

 

We may not be successful in increasing our brand awareness.

 

We believe that developing and maintaining awareness of the CAKE brand is critical to achieving widespread acceptance of our existing and future services and is an important element in attracting new customers. In order to build brand awareness, we must succeed in our marketing efforts and provide high quality services. Our efforts to build our brand will involve significant expense. Brand promotion activities may not yield increased revenue, and even if they do, any increased revenue may not offset the expenses we incurred in building our brand. If we fail to successfully promote and maintain our brand, or incur substantial expenses in an unsuccessful attempt to promote and maintain our brand, we may fail to attract enough new customers or retain our existing customers to the extent necessary to realize a sufficient return on our brand-building efforts, and our business could suffer.

 

We may not be successful in improving our existing products or in developing new products.

 

We are continuously developing and testing new products and proposed enhancements to our SaaS platform, some of which are still in the planning stage or in relatively early stages of development. Our success will depend in part on our ability to timely introduce new products into the marketplace. We must commit considerable time, effort and resources to complete development of our proposed products, service tools and product enhancements. Our product development efforts are subject to all of the risks inherent in the development of new products and technology, including unanticipated delays, expenses and difficulties, as well as the possible insufficiency of funding to complete development.

 

Our product development efforts may not be successfully completed. In addition, proposed products may not satisfactorily perform the functions for which they are designed, they may not meet applicable price or performance objectives and unanticipated technical or other problems may occur which result in increased costs or material delays in development. Despite testing by us and by potential end users, problems may be found in new products, tools and services after the commencement of commercial delivery, resulting in loss of, or delay in, market acceptance and other potential damages.

 

We may not be successful in developing new and enhanced services and features for our software.

 

Our market is characterized by rapidly changing technologies, evolving industry standards, frequent new product and service introductions and changing customer demands. To be successful, we must adapt to the rapidly changing market by continually enhancing our existing services and adding new services to address customers' changing demands. We could incur substantial costs if we need to modify our services or infrastructure to adapt to these changes. Our business could be adversely affected if we were to incur significant costs without generating related revenues or if we cannot adapt rapidly to these changes. Our business could also be adversely affected if we experience difficulties in introducing new or enhanced services or if these services are not favorably received by users. We may experience technical or other difficulties that could delay or prevent us from introducing new or enhanced services.

 

We depend on receipt of timely feeds from our content providers. 

 

We depend on Web browsers, ISPs and online service providers to provide access over the Internet to our product and service offerings. Many of these providers have experienced significant outages or interruptions in the past, and could experience outages, delays and other difficulties due to system failures unrelated to our systems. These types of interruptions could continue or increase in the future.

  

We rely on third-party computer hardware and software that may be difficult to replace or which could cause errors or failures of our service.

 

We rely on computer hardware purchased or leased and software licensed from third parties in order to offer our services, including database software from Microsoft Corporation, and servers hosted at Rackspace Hosting, Inc., Amazon Web Services, and SoftLayer Technologies, Inc. This hardware and software may not continue to be available to us at reasonable prices, or on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. Any loss of the right to use any of this hardware or software could significantly increase our expenses and otherwise result in delays in the provisioning of our service until equivalent technology is either developed by us, or, if available, is identified, obtained and integrated, which could harm our business. Any errors or defects in third-party hardware or software could result in errors or a failure of our service which could harm our business.

 
9

 

 

If our security measures are breached and unauthorized access is obtained to a customer’s data or our data or our information technology systems, our service may be perceived as not being secure, customers may curtail or stop using our service and we may incur significant legal and financial exposure and liabilities.

 

Our service involves the storage and transmission of customers’ proprietary information, and security breaches could expose us to a risk of loss of this information, and to litigation and possible liability. These security measures may be breached as a result of third-party action, including intentional misconduct by computer hackers, by employee error, malfeasance or otherwise, during the transfer of data to additional data centers or at any time, and may result in someone obtaining unauthorized access to our customers’ data or our data, including our intellectual property and other confidential business information, or our information technology systems. Additionally, third parties may attempt to fraudulently induce employees or customers into disclosing sensitive information such as user names, passwords or other information in order to gain access to our customers’ data or our data, including our intellectual property and other confidential business information, or our information technology systems. Because the techniques used to obtain unauthorized access, or to sabotage systems, change frequently and generally are not recognized until launched against a target, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques or to implement adequate preventative measures. In addition, our customers may authorize third party technology providers, via our various Application Programming Interfaces, to access their customer data. Because we do not control the transmissions between our customers and third-party technology providers, or the processing of such data by third-party technology providers, we cannot ensure the complete integrity or security of such transmissions or processing. Any security breach could result in a loss of confidence in the security of our service, damage our reputation, disrupt our business, lead to legal liability and negatively impact our future sales.

 

Interruptions or delays in service from our third-party data center hosting facilities could impair the delivery of our service and harm our business.

 

We currently serve our customers from third-party data center hosting facilities located in the United States, London, Ireland, Germany, Brazil and Singapore. Any damage to, or failure of, our systems generally could result in interruptions in our service. As we continue to add data centers and add capacity in our existing data centers, we may move or transfer our data and our customers’ data. Despite precautions taken during this process, any unsuccessful data transfers may impair the delivery of our service. Further, any damage to, or failure of, our systems generally could result in interruptions in our service. Interruptions in our service may reduce our revenue, cause us to issue credits or pay penalties, cause customers to terminate their subscriptions and may adversely affect our renewal rates and our ability to attract new customers. Our business will also be harmed if our customers and potential customers believe our service is unreliable.

 

As part of our current disaster recovery arrangements, our production environment and all of our customers’ data is currently backed up and mirrored in near real-time to offsite storage. We do not control the operation of any of these facilities, and they are vulnerable to damage or interruption from earthquakes, floods, fires, power loss, telecommunications failures and similar events. They may also be subject to break-ins, sabotage, intentional acts of vandalism and similar misconduct. Despite precautions taken at these facilities, the occurrence of a natural disaster or an act of terrorism, a decision to close the facilities without adequate notice or other unanticipated problems at these facilities could result in lengthy interruptions in our service. Even with the disaster recovery arrangements, our service could be interrupted.

 

Defects or disruptions in our service could diminish demand for our service and subject us to substantial liability.

 

Our service is complex and we have incorporated a variety of new computer hardware and software, both developed in-house and acquired from third party vendors.  As a result, our service may have errors or defects that users identify after they begin using it that could result in unanticipated downtime for our subscribers and harm our reputation and our business. Internet-based services frequently contain undetected errors when first introduced or when new versions or enhancements are released. We have from time to time found defects in our service and new errors in our existing service may be detected in the future. In addition, our customers may use our service in unanticipated ways that may cause a disruption in service for other customers attempting to access their data. Since our customers use our service for important aspects of their business, any errors, defects, disruptions in service or other performance problems with our service could hurt our reputation and may damage our customers’ businesses. If that occurs, customers could elect not to renew, or delay or withhold payment to us, we could lose future sales or customers may make warranty or other claims against us, which could result in an increase in our provision for doubtful accounts, an increase in collection cycles for accounts receivable or the expense and risk of litigation.

 

Our future performance and success depends on our ability to retain our key personnel.

 

Our future performance and success is heavily dependent upon the continued active participation of our current senior management team, including our President and Chief Executive Officer, Brian Ross, our Chief Operating Officer and President of our CAKE division, Santi Pierini, our Chief Financial Officer, Michael Lin, our Chief Technology Officer, David Stewart, and our General Counsel and Secretary, Damon Stein. The loss of any of their services could have a material adverse effect on our business development and our ability to execute our growth strategy, resulting in loss of sales and a slower rate of growth. We do not maintain any "key person" life insurance for any of our employees.

 

 
10

 

 

We may be subject to infringement claims on proprietary rights of third parties for software and other content that we distribute or make available to our customers.

 

We may be liable or alleged to be liable to third parties for software and other content that we distribute or make available to our customers:

 

If the content or the performance of our services violates third party copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights; or

 

If our customers violate the intellectual property rights of others by providing content through our services.

 

Any alleged liability could harm our business by damaging our reputation.  Any alleged liability could also require us to incur legal expenses in defense and could expose us to awards of damages and costs including, but not limited to, treble damages for willful infringement, and would likely divert management's attention which could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

  

We cannot assure you that third parties will not claim infringement by us with respect to past, current, or future technologies. Participants in our markets may be increasingly subject to infringement claims as the number of services and competitors in our industry segment grows. In addition, these risks are difficult to quantify in light of the continuously evolving nature of laws and regulations governing the Internet. Any claim relating to proprietary rights, whether meritorious or not, could be time-consuming, result in costly litigation, cause service upgrade delays or require us to enter into royalty or licensing agreements, and we cannot assure you that we will have adequate insurance coverage or that royalty or licensing agreements will be available on terms acceptable to us or at all. Further, we plan to offer our services and applications to customers worldwide, including to customers in foreign countries that may offer less protection for our intellectual property than the United States. Our failure to protect against misappropriation of our intellectual property and claims against us that we are infringing the intellectual property of third parties could have a negative effect on our business, revenues, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Evolving government regulation could adversely affect our business prospects.

 

We do not know with certainty how existing laws governing issues such as property ownership copyright and other intellectual property issues, taxation, illegal or obscene content, retransmission of media, personal privacy and data protection will apply to the Internet or to the distribution of multimedia and other proprietary content over the Internet. Most of these laws were adopted before the advent of the Internet and related technologies and therefore do not address the unique issues associated with the Internet and related technologies. Depending on how these laws developed and are interpreted by the judicial system, they could have the effect of:

 

Limiting the growth of the Internet;

 

Creating uncertainty in the marketplace that could reduce demand for our products and services;

 

Increasing our cost of doing business;

 

Exposing us to significant liabilities associated with content distributed or accessed through our products or services; or

 

Leading to increased product and applications development costs, or otherwise harm our business.

 

Because of this rapidly evolving and uncertain regulatory environment, both domestically and internationally, we cannot predict how existing or proposed laws and regulations might affect our business.

 

In addition, as Internet commerce continues to evolve, increasing regulation by federal, state or foreign agencies becomes more likely. For example, we believe increased regulation is likely in the area of data privacy, and laws and regulations applying to the solicitation, collection, processing or use of personal or consumer information could affect our customers’ ability to use and share data, potentially reducing demand for our software solutions and restricting our ability to store, process and share data with our customers. In addition, taxation of services provided over the Internet or other charges imposed by government agencies or by private organizations for accessing the Internet may also be imposed. Any regulation imposing greater fees for Internet use or restricting information exchange over the Internet could result in a decline in the use of the Internet and the viability of Internet-based services, which could harm our business.

 

 
11

 

 

Dilutive securities may adversely impact our stock price.

 

As of March 17, 2015, the following securities exercisable into shares of our Common Stock were outstanding: 

 

5,341,875 shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the exercise of warrants; and

 

14,408,336 shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the exercise of options.

   

These securities represent, as of March 17, 2015, approximately 19% of our Common Stock on a fully diluted, as exercised basis. 5,275,000 of the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the exercise of warrants are beneficially owned by our management. The exercise of any of these options or warrants, both of which have fixed prices, may materially adversely affect the market price of our Common Stock and will have a dilutive effect on our existing stockholders.

 

Our internal control over financial reporting was considered ineffective as of December 31, 2013. As of December 31, 2014, our internal control over financial reporting was considered effective. If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud. As a result, current and potential stockholders could lose confidence in our financial reporting, which would harm the value of our stock.

 

Effective internal control over financial reporting is necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports, effectively prevent fraud and operate as a public company. We have, in the past, discovered and may, in the future, discover areas of our internal control over financial reporting that needs improvement. If we are unable to adequately maintain or improve our internal control over financial reporting, we may report that our internal controls are ineffective. If we cannot provide reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, our reputation and operating results would be negatively impacted. Ineffective internal control over financial reporting could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information which could have a negative effect on the market price of our Common Stock and which could result in regulatory proceedings against us by, among others, the SEC.

 

Our internal control over financial reporting is not currently required to be separately audited because we are a smaller reporting company.

 

In the event that our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to rely on our internal control in connection with their audit of our financial statements, and in the further event that they are unable to devise alternative procedures in order to satisfy themselves as to the material accuracy of our financial statements and related disclosures, it is possible that we would receive a qualified or an adverse audit opinion on those financial statements which could also adversely affect the market price of our Common Stock and our ability to secure additional financing as needed.

 

We have not voluntarily implemented various corporate governance measures, in the absence of which stockholders may have more limited protections against interested director transactions, conflicts of interest and similar matters.

 

Federal legislation, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and The Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, has resulted in the adoption of various corporate governance measures designed to promote the integrity of the corporate management and the securities markets. Some of these measures have been adopted in response to legal requirements. Others have been adopted by companies in response to the requirements of national securities exchanges, such as the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market. Among the corporate governance measures that are required under the rules of national securities exchanges are those that address the board of directors' independence, audit committee oversight, and the adoption of a code of ethics. We have not yet adopted some of these corporate governance measures and, since our securities are not listed on a national securities exchange, we are not required to do so. We have not adopted corporate governance measures such as an audit committee or other independent committees of our Board of Directors.  In the absence of audit, nominating and compensation committees comprised of at least a majority of independent directors, decisions concerning matters such as compensation packages to our senior officers and recommendations for director nominees may be made by a majority of directors who have an interest in the outcome of the matters being decided. Prospective investors should bear in mind our current lack of corporate governance measures in formulating their investment decisions.

 

The limited market for our Common Stock will make our stock price more volatile.  Therefore, you may have difficulty selling your shares.

 

The market for our Common Stock is limited and we cannot assure you that a larger market will ever be developed or maintained. Currently, our Common Stock is quoted on the OTCQB Marketplace. Securities quoted on the OTCQB Marketplace typically have low trading volumes.  Market fluctuations and volatility, as well as general economic, market and political conditions, could reduce our market price. As a result, this may make it difficult or impossible for our shareholders to sell our Common Stock.

 

There are no restrictions on the sale of our outstanding Common Stock.  Sales by existing shareholders may depress the share price of our Common Stock and may impair our ability to raise additional capital through the sale of equity securities when needed.

 

The possibility that substantial amounts of outstanding Common Stock may be sold in the public market may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our Common Stock.  This could negatively affect the market price of our Common Stock and could impair our ability to raise additional capital through the sale of equity securities.

 

Sales of shares of our Common Stock to the public may adversely impact our stock price.

 

We have a currently effective Registration Statement on Form S-3 registering for sale up to $20,000,000 of our Common Stock. Sales of shares of our Common Stock in the public market, or the perception that these sales might occur, could depress the market price of our Common Stock and may make it more difficult for our stockholders to sell their common stock at desirable prices. We are unable to predict the effect that sales may have on the prevailing market price of our Common Stock.

 

 
12

 

Our Common Stock is subject to the “penny stock” rules of the SEC, and the trading market in our Common Stock is limited.  This makes transactions in our Common Stock cumbersome and may reduce the value of your shares.

 

The SEC has adopted Rule 3a51-1 which establishes the definition of a "penny stock," for the purposes relevant to us, as any equity security that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share or with an exercise price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions.  For any transaction involving a penny stock, unless exempt, Rule 15g-9 requires:

 

that a broker or dealer approve a person's account for transactions in penny stocks; and

the broker or dealer receive from the investor a written agreement to the transaction, setting forth the identity and quantity of the penny stock to be purchased.

 

In order to approve a person's account for transactions in penny stocks, the broker or dealer must:

 

Obtain financial information and investment experience objectives of the person; and

make a reasonable determination that the transactions in penny stocks are suitable for that person and the person has sufficient knowledge and experience in financial matters to be capable of evaluating the risks of transactions in penny stocks.

 

The broker or dealer must also deliver, prior to any transaction in a penny stock, a disclosure schedule prescribed by the SEC relating to the penny stock market, which, in highlight form:

 

sets forth the basis on which the broker or dealer made the suitability determination; and

that the broker or dealer received a signed, written statement from the investor prior to the transaction.

 

Generally, brokers may be less willing to execute transactions in securities subject to the "penny stock" rules. This may make it more difficult for investors to dispose of our Common Stock and cause a decline in its market value.

 

Disclosure also has to be made about the risks of investing in penny stocks in both public offerings and in secondary trading and about the commissions payable to both the broker-dealer and the registered representative, current quotations for the securities and the rights and remedies available to an investor in cases of fraud in penny stock transactions. Finally, monthly statements have to be sent disclosing recent price information for the penny stock held in the account and information on the limited market in penny stocks.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 2. Properties.

 

During January 2014, we entered into an office lease agreement to lease approximately 8,754 usable square feet of office space at 20411 SW Birch Street, Suite 250, Newport Beach, California 92660. The lease is for a term of four years, commencing on or about February 1, 2014 and provides for an option by us to extend the term for an additional 36 month period following the initial term. The initial base rent for the lease is $22,247 per month, increasing to $25,366 per month by the end of the initial term and adjustable in accordance with the terms of the lease. We will also pay a 10.23% share of the premises’ operating expense increases over the term of the lease. The lessor will provide up to $150,000 for tenant improvements to the office space for which we have spent in the aggregate a total of $335,711, the balance of which will be paid by us. We moved our SaaS business and corporate headquarters to this space on February 18, 2014.

 

During May 2014, we entered into an office sublease agreement to lease approximately 4,168 usable square feet of additional office space adjacent to our corporate headquarters in Newport Beach. The sublease is for an approximate term of two years, commencing on May 1, 2014 and ending on May 31, 2016. The initial base rent for the sublease is $10,444 per month, increasing to $11,038 per month by the end of the term. We will also pay a 5.33% share of the premises’ operating expense over the term of the sublease.

 

During December 2010, we entered into a one year lease for approximately 800 sq. ft. office space in Santa Monica, California, which commenced on January 1, 2011. This facility is used for administrative purposes.  Under the terms of the lease, we are currently required to pay monthly base rent of $1,875, but we also receive $933 per month in subtenant payments. The lease is renewable on a monthly basis and we have renewed the lease on a monthly basis since the expiration of the initial term.

 

On July 30, 2014, our Subsidiary entered into an office lease agreement to lease approximately 1,507 usable square feet of office space at 76-78 Charlotte Street, London, England. The lease is for a term of five years, commencing on or about July 30, 2014 and provides for an option by our Subsidiary to terminate the lease after the three year anniversary, upon giving the lessor six months prior written notice. The base rent is GBP 89,667 per year and the estimated service charges for the Lease are GBP 45,648 per year. Our Subsidiary will pay an estimated GBP 60,000 for furniture, cabling and build out of the Premises. We moved the business of our Subsidiary into this space during July 2014

 

We believe that our current leases are adequate and sufficient for our needs in the immediate future.

 

 
13 

 

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

 

From time to time, we may become involved in legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business. We are not presently a party to any legal proceedings, including the following, that we currently believe, if determined adversely to us, would individually or taken together have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, financial condition or cash flows.

 

On February 22, 2015, we commenced an action against Jeff McCollum, the former President of our CAKE division, by filing a complaint in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Orange, Central District, asserting claims against Mr. McCollum for fraud, breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duty, among others. Our complaint asserts that, during Mr. McCollum’s employment, he engaged in fraud, breached his fiduciary duties to us and our shareholders, and breached the terms of his employment contract in connection with his duties to us. We terminated Mr. McCollum’s employment on September 8, 2014 for cause as defined in Mr. McCollum’s employment agreement as a result of, among other things, Mr. McCollum having abandoned his position and professional responsibilities. Our complaint additionally asserts that following our termination of Mr. McCollum, he illegally accessed and downloaded our proprietary and confidential information, converted our property, and destroyed relevant evidence. In addition to a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, and permanent injunction, all enjoining Mr. McCollum from further breaching his employment agreement, we seek general and special damages, pre- and post-judgment interest, and costs of suit according to proof, plus any other legal or equitable relief as the court may deem just and proper.

 

On February 23, 2015, Mr. McCollum commenced a separate action by filing a complaint in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Orange, Central District, asserting claims against us for violation of California Commercial Code §8401 and breach of fiduciary duty arising from Mr. McCollum’s request to have the restrictive legend removed from his share certificate representing shares of our Common Stock owned by him. Mr. McCollum alleges that we contend that the restriction should remain on his share certificate. Mr. McCollum has requested a judicial determination as to his rights to have the restrictive legend removed from his share certificate, and an order compelling the Company to issue him a new certificate without a restrictive legend. He also seeks compensatory and punitive damages, pre-judgment interest, an award of costs, and any other relief the court may deem proper.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

 

Not applicable.

 

PART II

 

Item 5.  Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

 

Our Common Stock is quoted on the OTCQB Marketplace under the symbol “ACLZ”. The following table sets forth the high and low bid quotations for the Common Stock as reported on the OTCQB for each quarter during the last two fiscal years. These quotations reflect prices between dealers, do not include retail mark-ups, markdowns, and commissions and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.

 

Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2013

 

High

   

Low

 
                 

Quarter Ended March 31, 2013

  $ 1.09     $ 0.41  

Quarter Ended June 30, 2013

  $ 1.11     $ 0.67  

Quarter Ended September 30, 2013

  $ 1.25     $ 0.72  

Quarter Ended December 31, 2013

  $ 1.69     $ 1.00  

 

Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

High

   

Low

 
                 

Quarter Ended March 31, 2014

  $ 1.90     $ 1.32  

Quarter Ended June 30, 2014

  $ 1.81     $ 1.04  

Quarter Ended September 30, 2014

  $ 1.42     $ 0.87  

Quarter Ended December 31, 2014

  $ 1.79     $ 1.05  

 

Stockholders

 

As of March 17, 2015, there were 637 stockholders of record of our Common Stock.

 

Dividend Policy

 

We have not declared or paid any cash dividends on our Common Stock since inception and we do not intend to pay any cash dividends on our Common Stock in the foreseeable future. We intend to retain any future earnings for use in the operation and expansion of our business. Any future decision to pay dividends on Common Stock will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will be dependent upon our fiscal condition, results of operations, capital requirements and other factors our Board of Directors may deem relevant.

 

Unregistered issuance of Securities

 

We issued warrants on September 18, 2014 to David Stewart, our Chief Technology Officer, to purchase up to 2,000,000 shares of our Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.19 per share. We issued warrants on December 12, 2014 to Michael Lin, our Chief Financial Officer, and to Santi Pierini, our Chief Operating Officer and President of our CAKE division, to purchase up to 1,400,000 and 1,650,000, respectively, shares of our Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.33 per share. The warrants were issued in consideration of the executive officer’s services to us, vest in twelve equal quarterly installments commencing on January 1, 2015, and were exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) under the Securities Act as not involving any public offering. 

 

Share Repurchases

 

None.

 

 
14

 

 

Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

The following information should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and accompanying notes included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Overview

 

We own and operate CAKE, and getcake.com, a marketing technology that provides a comprehensive suite of innovative marketing intelligence tools. Our powerful software-as-a service, or SaaS, is an enterprise solution that has been an industry standard for affiliate networks, advertisers, publishers and agencies to measurably improve and optimize digital spend. We currently have over 500 customers driving billions of consumer actions monthly through the CAKE enterprise platform.

 

Our revenue model is based on a monthly license fee, a usage fee (based on volume of clicks, impressions, or leads), and a training and implementation fee. Clients purchase annual or monthly subscriptions with an additional usage fee. A majority of our revenue is derived from clients in the United States but we have seen an average 12% quarter on quarter growth this past year from our European client base.

 

Our training, support personnel, hosting and cloud-based infrastructure contribute to our cost of operating the business. We anticipate more spending in these areas while we continue to grow and could foresee some savings in infrastructure cost due to economies of scale. However, we want to continue to invest in these areas to support our growth. To go-to-market with our new product, CAKE for Advertisers, enterprise sales representatives were added and marketing programs were created to properly launch and market the product to global advertisers. In addition, development resources were required to design and develop CAKE for Advertisers.

 

We experienced 71% year over year growth in revenue in 2014 when compared to the same period in 2013. The organic growth has been a result of providing the marketing technology industry a comprehensive suite of marketing intelligence tools through innovation and what we believe to be a superior product and customer experience.

 

We intend to grow revenues by investing in sales, marketing, and product development and innovation. We are currently hiring and will continue to hire sales executives globally to target specific verticals and accounts with both agencies and advertisers. We will allocate a significant portion of our marketing budget to being present at tradeshows, industry publications, and providing the support documentation required by sales initiatives. Additional efforts will be made to speak at industry events and write for online publications, increasing awareness of the CAKE suite of products and the thought leadership driving product development.

 

 
15

 

 

Results of Operations

 

ACCELERIZE INC.

(Formerly Accelerize New Media, Inc.)

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

   

Years Ended

December 31,

   

Increase/

(Decrease)

in $ 2014

   

Increase/

(Decrease)

in % 2014

 
   

2014

   

2013

   

vs 2013

   

vs 2013

 
                                 

Revenue:

  $ 16,460,030     $ 9,653,865       6,806,165       70.5

%

Cost of revenues

    4,143,988       2,063,481       2,080,507       100.8

%

Gross Profit

    12,316,042       7,590,384       4,725,658       62.3

%

                                 

Operating expenses:

                               

Research and development

    3,142,851       1,425,215       1,717,636       120.5

%

Sales and marketing

    6,170,653       3,829,175       2,341,478       61.1

%

General and administrative

    6,224,070       2,520,631       3,703,439       146.9

%

Total operating expenses

    15,537,574       7,775,021       7,762,553       99.8

%

                                 

Operating loss

    (3,221,532

)

    (184,637

)

    (3,036,895

)

    1644.80

%

                                 

Other income (expense):

                               

Interest income

    18,185       14,745       3,440       23.3

%

Interest expense

    (49,908

)

    (39,869

)

    (10,039

)

    25.2

%

Total other (expense)

    (31,723

)

    (25,124

)

    (6,599

)

    26.3

%

                                 

Loss from continuing operations

    (3,253,255

)

    (209,761

)

    (3,043,494

)

    1450.9

%

                                 

Discontinued operations

                               

Gain from the disposal of discontinued operations

    -       303,537       (303,537

)

    -100.0

%

Income from discontinued operations, net

    -       303,537       (303,537

)

    -100.0

%

                                 

Net (loss) income

  $ (3,253,255

)

  $ 93,776     $ (3,347,031

)

    -3569.2

%

 

Revenues

 

   

Years ended

December 31,

   

%

Change

 
   

2014

   

2013

         
                         
                         

Revenues

  $ 16,460,030     $ 9,653,865       70.5

%

  

We generate revenues from monthly licensing fees, supplemented by per-transaction fees paid by customers for monthly platform usage along with training and implementation (also known as on-boarding) fees.

 

The increase in our software licensing revenues during 2014, when compared to the prior year, is due to the increased number of customers using our SaaS products and services, as well as increased monthly revenues from our existing customers resulting from higher usage of our SaaS platform. Our number of customers increased 43% during 2014 when compared to the prior year, and our average monthly fee per customer increased 17% during 2014 when compared to the prior year. The increase in the number of customers using our SaaS products and services during 2014 is primarily due to the increased resources we have devoted to customer acquisition for our SaaS products. The higher usage by our existing customers of the same products is primarily due to higher market acceptance among our larger users who generate a higher volume of transactions.

 

We believe that our SaaS revenues will continue to increase during 2015.

 

 
16

 

Cost of Revenues

 

   

Years ended

December 31,

   

%

Change

 
   

2014

   

2013

         
                         

Cost of Revenues

  $ 4,143,988     $ 2,063,481       100.8

%

  

Cost of revenue consists primarily of web hosting and personnel costs associated with supporting customer on-boarding and training activities, consisting of salaries, benefits, and related infrastructure costs. Web hosting fees are partially correlated to our revenues, depending on each specific agreement we have with our clients. The majority of our clients’ services are hosted on non-dedicated servers, on which capacity can be maximized by server, while certain customers prefer to have their services hosted on dedicated servers, on which capacity can only be maximized by customer and by server. Additionally, our resources associated with on-boarding are usually allocated at the beginning of the relationship with the new customer (usually, the first two months). Accordingly, our personnel costs associated with supporting customer on-boarding activities are not necessarily correlated with our revenues.

 

During 2014, when compared to the prior year, cost of revenues significantly increased reflecting the higher number of employees we hired to support customer on-boarding and training activities, which increased our personnel costs by approximately $525,000, when compared to 2013, as well as web hosting fees incurred to support our increased number of clients and platform usage, which increased by approximately $1,350,000, when compared to 2013.

 

We believe that our cost of revenues will continue to increase, at lower percentages than our anticipated increase in revenues, for 2015.

  

Research and Development Expenses

 

   

Years ended

December 31,

   

%

Change

 
   

2014

   

2013

         
                         

Research and development

  $ 3,142,851     $ 1,425,215       120.5

%

  

Research and development expenses consist primarily of personnel costs associated with the enhancement and maintenance of our SaaS product offerings, consisting of salaries, benefits, and related infrastructure costs, offset by capitalized software development costs. 

 

Our research and development expenses increased during 2014, when compared to the prior year, due to increased staff assigned to the enhancement and maintenance of our software services, which translated into increased personnel costs, offset by the capitalization of software development costs which amounted to approximately $725,000 during 2014. Capitalized software development costs during 2013 amounted to approximately $565,000.

 

We believe that our research and development expenses will continue to increase during 2015 as we continue to enhance some of the features of our SaaS platform, offset by the amount of internal-use software development costs which would otherwise be capitalized.

  

Sales and Marketing Expenses

 

   

Years Ended

December 31,

   

%

Change

 
   

2014

   

2013

         
                         

Sales and Marketing

  $ 6,170,653     $ 3,829,175       61.1

%

 

Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of personnel costs associated with the sale and marketing of our SaaS products, including salaries, benefits, and related infrastructure, as well as the costs of related marketing programs, such as trade shows and public relations.

 

The increase in sales and marketing expenses during 2014, when compared to the prior year, is primarily due to the increased number of employees associated with the sale of our products as well as increased expenditures in our marketing programs, primarily company rebranding, trade shows, press relations, industry analyst relations and digital advertising (including, pay-per-click, display ads, sponsored articles, etc.). Additionally, we amortized customer relationships we acquired from a former competitor in November 2013 of $666,667 during 2014.

 

We believe that our sales and marketing expenses will continue to increase during the remainder of 2015 as we continue to hire sales and marketing personnel in the U.S. and in Europe in anticipation of increased revenues and as we increase our expenditures in certain marketing programs. Additionally, the remaining amortization of the customer relationships we acquired from the former competitor in November 2013 will amount to $296,296 during 2015.

 
17

 

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

   

Years Ended

December 31,

   

%

Change

 
   

2014

   

2013

         
                         

General and administrative

  $ 6,224,070     $ 2,520,631       146.9

%

  

General and administrative expenses primarily consist of personnel costs associated with the support of our operations consisting of salaries, benefits, and related infrastructure. Also included are non-personnel costs, such as audit fees, accounting services and legal fees, as well as professional fees, insurance and other corporate expenses such as investor relations.

  

The increase in general and administrative expenses during 2014, when compared with the prior year, is primarily due to the increased number of employees assigned to support our organization. As part of this increase in personnel, roles became more clearly defined in 2014 and personnel expenses for our account managers were classified as general and administrative expenses in 2014 as this function became purely a customer support function related to our day-to-day operations. These expenses were classified under sales and marketing in 2013. Additionally, we continued to expand in Europe during 2014, we incurred additional up-front expenses related to developing and integrating our operations in Europe prior to a commensurate increase in revenues, and increased our efforts in investor relations.

 

We believe that our general and administrative expenses will continue to increase during 2015 as we expect that the scope of our operations will continue to expand.

 

Other Income/Interest Income

 

 

   

Years Ended

December 31,

   

%

Change

 
   

2014

   

2013

         
                         

Other Income/Interest Income

  $ 18,185     $ 14,745       23.3

%

  

Other Income during 2013 consisted of interest income associated with a note receivable delivered to us by the buyer of our online marketing services division during September 2012, which was satisfied by the borrower in June 2013 and the amortization of the related original issuance discount. Due to the cancellation of this note receivable, we have not recognized any interest income from the note receivable in 2014.

 

Other Income during 2014 consisted of rent income from a sublease of our Santa Monica office space and profit from sale of non-inventory assets. The increase in Other Income during 2014, when compared to the prior year, is due to the sale of non-inventory assets which only occurred in 2014.

 

 

Other Expenses/Interest Expense

 

   

Years Ended

December 31,

   

%

Change

 
   

2014

   

2013

         
                         

Other Expenses/Interest Expense

  $ 49,908     $ 39,869       25.2

%

  

Other expenses consist of interest charges and amortization of deferred financing costs associated with our line of credit, or the Line of Credit (described below), with Square 1 Bank, or the Lender, during 2014 and debt discount associated with our 12% Convertible Notes Payable and 12% Note Payable in 2013.

 

The increase in interest expenses during 2014 is primarily due to borrowings we have made from time to time under the Line of Credit.

 

 
18

 

 

Income from discontinued operations, net

 

   

Years Ended

December 31,

   

%

Change

 
   

2014

   

2013

         
                         

Gain from the disposal of discontinued operations

    -       303,537       -100.0

%

Income from discontinued operations, net

  $ -     $ 303,537       -100.0

%

 

  

We sold our online marketing services division in September of 2012.

 

The gain during 2013 resulted primarily from disposition proceeds received as in-kind services from the buyer of our online marketing services division. We did not receive such in-kind services during 2014 and do not anticipate recognizing additional gains or losses from the disposal of discontinued operations in 2015.

 

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

   

Ending balance at

December 31,

   

Average balance during

years ended December 31,

 
   

2014

   

2013

   

2014

   

2013

 

Cash

  $ 1,130,667     $ 1,157,315     $ 1,143,991     $ 694,621  

Accounts receivable

    1,749,566       1,041,671       1,395,618       857,745  
                                 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    1,202,496       1,703,007       1,452,751       993,767  

Convertible notes payable excluding debt discount

    -       -       -       88,122  

Notes payable, excluding debt discount

    -       -       -       72,187  

Line of credit

    2,900,000       -       1,450,000       -  

 

 

At December 31, 2014 and 2013, 58% and 55%, respectively, of our total assets consisted of cash, cash equivalents and accounts receivable. 

 

We extend unsecured credit in the normal course of business to our customers. The determination of the appropriate amount of the reserve for uncollectible accounts is based upon a review of the amount of credit extended, the length of time each receivable has been outstanding, and the specific customers from whom the receivables are due.

 

The objective of liquidity management is to ensure that we have ready access to sufficient funds to meet commitments while implementing our growth strategy. Our primary sources of liquidity historically include the sale of our securities and other financing activities. We also completed the sale of our online marketing services division in September 2012, which generated $379,000. Most recently, we have entered into the Line of Credit. In August 2013, we satisfied all our then existing interest-bearing outstanding obligations by paying the remaining principal amount of $22,500 and $122,500 on the 12% Note Payable and certain 12% Convertible Notes Payable, respectively, from existing cash on hand. Additionally, we issued 131,411 shares of our Common Stock in satisfaction of $52,564 of principal and interest on certain 12% Convertible Notes Payable.

 

We do not have any material commitments for capital expenditures of tangible items. We routinely purchase computers, office equipment, and technology to maintain or enhance the productivity of our employees and such capital expenditures amounted to $185,287 and $216,307, respectively, during 2014 and 2013.

 

We have material commitments for payments under an agreement with a former competitor from whom we purchased certain customer relationships, as referenced on our consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2013, related to our business. Pursuant to the agreement, we paid $1 million payable in four installments of $250,000 every quarter, beginning March 2014. Additionally, the former competitor referred potential clients to us. We paid the final installment of $250,000 in December 2014 and have no outstanding balance under this arrangement at December 31, 2014.

 

On September 30, 2014, we entered into an amendment of our Line of Credit with the Lender to borrow up to a maximum of $6,000,000 at our discretion, an increase from up to $3,000,000 that we were permitted to borrow under the original Line of Credit entered into on March 17, 2014. Amounts borrowed will accrue interest at the prime rate in effect from time to time plus 1.25%, not to be less than 5.5% per annum, provided that in no event shall the accrued interest payable with respect to any month be less than $10,000. Accrued interest on amounts borrowed is payable monthly and all other amounts borrowed will be payable in full on the maturity date of March 17, 2016, which maturity date may be extended to March 17, 2017 if we provide the Lender with a fully-funded business plan acceptable to the Lender by January 15, 2016 and no event of default has occurred. The Line of Credit may be earlier terminated without a prepayment fee.

 

The Line of Credit, as amended, contains covenants including, but not limited to, covenants to achieve specified Adjusted EBITDA levels and customer renewal levels, limiting capital expenditures, requiring minimum liquidity and restricting our ability to pay dividends, purchase and sell assets outside the ordinary course and incur additional indebtedness. As of December 31, 2014, we were in compliance with these covenants. The occurrence of a material adverse change, as defined, will be an event of default under the Line of Credit, in addition to other customary events of default. We granted the Lender a security interest in all of our personal property and intellectual property.

 

We owed $2,900,000 under the Line of Credit at December 31, 2014. The interest rate for the amount borrowed was 5.5% per annum.

 

 
19 

 

 

We believe we have sufficient cash to fund our operations for the next 12 months. We currently expect to use cash balances, borrowings under the Line of Credit, and net proceeds from offerings of our equity securities to fund our future operations, capital expenditures and other expenses. We currently have an effective shelf registration statement that allows us to issue up to $20,000,000 of our Common Stock on an expedited basis, but it does not assure that there will be buyers for such Common Stock. Our ability to obtain, and the costs of, any future financings will depend primarily on our success, profitability and market conditions, among other factors.

 

Changes in Cash Flows

   

Years Ended

December 31,

 
   

2014

   

2013

 
                 

Cash flows from operating activities:

               

Net income

    (3,253,255

)

    93,776  
                 

Gain from the disposal of discontinued operations

    -       (303,537

)

Loss on note receivable

    -       19,889  

Adjustments to reconcile loss from continuing operations to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:

               

Depreciation and amortization

    1,321,613       113,588  

Amortization of debt discount

    19,317       21,293  

Provision for bad debt

    153,041       40,864  

Fair value of services in lieu of proceeds from note receivable

    -       246,361  

Fair value of options

    603,198       504,511  

Amortization of original issuance discount

    -       (11,889

)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

               

Accounts receivable

    (860,935

)

    (408,717

)

Other assets

    (132,989

)

    (11,555

)

Prepaid expenses

    (119,242

)

    (32,561

)

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    (475,512

)

    418,480  

Deferred revenues

    123,164       58,695  

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

    (2,621,600

)

    749,198  
                 

Cash flows used in investing activities:

               

Proceeds from sale of lead generation business

    -       137,176  

Capitalized software for internal use

    (724,722

)

    (564,644

)

Capital expenditures

    (598,386

)

    (216,307

)

                 

Net cash used in investing activities

    (1,323,108

)

    (643,775

)

                 

Cash flows provided by financing activities:

               

Principal repayments on notes payable

    -       (266,180

)

Proceeds from line of credit, net

    2,900,000       -  

Payment of financing costs

    (50,000

)

    -  

Proceeds from exercise of warrants and options

    1,079,031       1,086,146  

Net cash provided by financing activities

    3,929,031       819,966  
                 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

    (10,971

)

    -  
                 

Net (decrease) increase in cash

    (26,648

)

    925,389  

 

Comparison of Year Ended December 31, 2014 to December 31, 2013

 

The increase in the fair value of options during 2014 is primarily due to an increased number of options vesting during 2014 when compared to 2013.

 

The increase in accounts receivable as of December 31, 2014, when compared to 2013, is primarily due to a commensurate increase in revenues.

 

The decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses as of December 31, 2014, when compared to 2013, is primarily due to a commensurate decrease in non-payroll expenses.

 

Cash used in investing activities during 2014 consists of purchases of computer equipment and other capital expenditures of approximately $598,000, and capitalization of development costs for internal-use software of approximately $725,000. Cash used in investing activities during 2013 consisted of approximately $216,000 in purchases of capital expenditures which included $125,000 for a one-time license fee for software for internal use, and approximately $565,000 in capitalization of development costs of internal-use software. These costs in 2013 were offset by proceeds from the sale of discontinued operations of approximately $137,000.

 

 
20

 

 

Cash provided by financing activities during 2014 resulted from the proceeds from the exercise of warrants of approximately $1,080,000 and a $2,900,000 draw down on the Line of Credit at December 31, 2014. This amount was offset by $50,000 in financing costs. Cash provided by financing activities during 2013 consisted of approximately $1,086,000 from the exercise of warrants, offset by the principal repayments on our notes payable, then outstanding, of approximately $266,000.

 

Despite an increase in revenues, the increase of net cash used in operating activities during 2014 was primarily due to an increase in correlated web-hosting and payroll costs, as well as an increase in accounts receivable due to a commensurate increase in revenues.  The increase in net cash used in operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2013 was due to an increase in revenues during 2013, offset by a lesser increase in correlated web-hosting and payroll costs and by costs incurred in connection with capitalized software for internal use, which are shown as an investing activity.

 

Capital Raising Transactions

 

Exercise of warrants and options

 

We generated proceeds of $1,079,031 from the exercise of 3,082,875 warrants during 2014.

 

Line of Credit

 

On March 17, 2014, we entered into the Line of Credit with the Lender by executing a loan and security agreement to borrow up to a maximum of $3,000,000 at our discretion. Amounts borrowed will accrue interest at the prime rate in effect, plus 1.25%, not to be less than 5.5% per annum. Accrued interest on amounts borrowed is payable monthly and all other amounts borrowed will be payable in full on the maturity date of March 17, 2016, which maturity date may be extended to March 17, 2017 if we provide the Lender with a fully-funded business plan acceptable to Lender by January 15, 2016 and no event of default has occurred.

 

On September 30, 2014, we increased the Line of Credit with Square 1 Bank to borrow up to a maximum of $6,000,000 at our discretion.

 

The Line of Credit contains covenants including, but not limited to, covenants to achieve specified Adjusted EBITDA, as defined, levels and customer renewal levels, limiting capital expenditures and restricting our ability to pay dividends, purchase and sell assets outside the ordinary course and incur additional indebtedness. As of December 31, 2014, we were in compliance with these covenants. The occurrence of a material adverse change, as defined, will be an event of default under the Line of Credit, in addition to other customary events of default. We granted the Lender a security interest in all of our personal property and intellectual property.

 

In connection with the Line of Credit, we issued to the Lender a warrant to purchase up to 46,875 shares of our Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.60 per share subject to certain adjustments for dividends, splits, or reclassifications. The warrant is exercisable for 3 years and expires on March 17, 2017.  

 

We owed $2,900,000 under the Line of Credit at December 31, 2014. The interest rate for the amount borrowed was 5.5% per annum.  

 

Other outstanding obligations at December 31, 2014

 

Warrants

 

As of December 31, 2014, 5,341,875 shares of our Common Stock are issuable pursuant to the exercise of warrants.

 

 
21

 

Options

 

As of December 31, 2014, 14,408,336 shares of our Common Stock are issuable pursuant to the exercise of options.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements.

 

Climate Change

 

Our opinion is that neither climate change, nor governmental regulations related to climate change, have had, or are expected to have, any material effect on our operations. 

 

Critical Accounting Policies 

 

Share-Based Payment

 

We account for stock-based compensation in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation, or ASC 718. Under the fair value recognition provisions of this topic, stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is the vesting period. See Note 10 in the footnotes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information regarding our stock-based compensation assumptions and expenses.

 

We use the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model to estimate the fair value of our options, which incorporates various subjective assumptions including volatility, risk-free interest rate, expected life, and dividend yield to calculate the fair value of stock option awards. Compensation expense recognized in the consolidated statements of operations is based on awards ultimately expected to vest and reflects estimated forfeitures. ASC 718 requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

We recognize revenue on arrangements in accordance with ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition. Revenue is recognized only when the price is fixed or determinable, persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the service is performed, and collectability of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured.

 

Our SaaS revenues are generated from implementation and training fees and a monthly license fee, supplemented by per transaction fees paid by customers for monthly platform usage. The initial term of the customer contract is generally one year with one of two general cancellation policies. Each party may cancel the contract within the initial period or after the initial period, with 30-days’ prior notice. We do not provide any general right of return for our delivered items. Services associated with the implementation and training fees have standalone value to our customers, as there are third-party vendors who offer similar services to our services. Accordingly, they qualify as separate units of accounting. We allocate a fair value to each element deliverable at the recognition date and recognize such value when the services are provided. We base the fair value of the implementation and training fees on third-party evidence and the monthly license fee on vendor-specific objective evidence. Fees charged by third-party vendors for implementation and training services do not vary significantly from the fees charged by us. Services associated with implementation and training fees are generally rendered within a month from the initial contract date. The value attributed to the monthly license fees as well as the fees associated with monthly transaction-based platform usage are recognized in the corresponding period.

 

Useful Lives of Long-Lived Assets

 

We amortize our fixed assets, such as capitalized software for internal use, and customer relationships over their useful lives. We exercise judgment in determining the useful lives of such assets based on our historical experience.

 

 

Item 7A.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

 Not applicable.

 

Item 8.   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

 

The information required by this item is included in Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

 

Item 9.  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

 

None.

 
22

 

 

Item 9A.  Controls and Procedures.

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer, who is our principal executive officer, and our Chief Financial Officer, who is our principal financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. Based upon that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of December 31, 2014, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that material information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, including ensuring that such material information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer, and our principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

 

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act.  Our management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014.  In making this evaluation, our management used criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting – Integrated Framework (1992).

 

During our assessment of the design and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, our management identified no material weaknesses and believes that, as of December 31, 2014, our internal control over financial reporting is effective.

 

This annual report does not include an attestation report of our independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by our independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to the rules of the SEC that permit smaller reporting companies to provide only the management’s report in this annual report.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 9B.  Other Information

 

None

 

 
23

 

PART III

 

Item 10.  Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

 

The following table sets forth the names, ages and principal position of our executive officers and directors as of March 17, 2015:

 

Name

Age

Position

Brian Ross

40 

Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer, Treasurer

Santi Pierini

52 

Chief Operating Officer, President of our CAKE division

Michael Lin

44 

Chief Financial Officer

David Stewart

28

Chief Technology Officer

Damon Stein

39

General Counsel and Secretary

Mario Marsillo Jr.

46

Director

Gregory Akselrud

39

Director

 

Brian Ross. Mr. Ross has served as our President, Chief Executive Officer and director since November 2005, and as our Chairman of the Board since March 2013. He previously served as Senior Vice President of Business Development for iMall, Inc. from 1994 and became Director of Investor Relations in June 1997. iMall, Inc. was acquired by Excite@Home in October 1999. Mr. Ross then served as a Business Development Manager in Excite@Home’s E-Business Services Group until December 1999. After the sale of iMall, Mr. Ross was a founding investor of GreatDomains Inc. which was sold in October 2000 to Verisign. Between 2000 and 2003, he was Director of Business Development for Prime Ventures Inc., a leading Venture Partner firm focusing on early stage companies in Southern California. In July 2004, Mr. Ross became a founding investor in E-force Media, a diversified online marketing company where he acted as interim Director of Business Development. Mr. Ross attended the University of Santa Barbara.

 

We believe that Mr. Ross is qualified to serve as a director for the following reasons: Mr. Ross, who is one of our founders, is an Internet industry veteran with over two decades of experience.  He has been our Chief Executive Officer for more than eight years and he has a proven track record with the aforementioned companies, which were all operating in online marketing solutions and e-commerce. Additionally Mr. Ross has played an important role in the development and growth of various Internet companies, taking them from start-up companies through the various stages of their growth cycle.

 

Santi Pierini. Mr. Pierini was appointed as our Chief Operating Officer in October 2014. Mr. Pierini joined us in February 2014 as our Executive Vice President of Marketing. Mr. Pierini has previously served in senior executive positions at InQuira, Inc. (acquired by Oracle Corporation) from 2009 to 2010, Day Software (now Adobe Marketing Cloud) from 2002 to 2009, Vignette Corporation (acquired by OpenText Corporation) from 2000 to 2002 and OnDisplay Creative (acquired by Vignette Corporation) from 1997 to 2000. Earlier in his career, he worked in marketing at Dun & Bradstreet, Jet Propulsion Laboratory as a systems architect and as a senior management consultant for Andersen Consulting (now Accenture). Mr. Pierini is a graduate of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo with a B.S. in Computer Science.

 

Michael Lin. Mr. Lin was appointed our Chief Financial Officer in September 2014. From June 2013 to September 2014, Mr. Lin was our Executive Vice President of Finance. From 2012 to March 2013 Mr. Lin was the Chief Financial Officer of Gehry Technologies, Inc., from 2009 to 2011 he was the Chief Financial Officer of Uniloc USA, Inc./BlueCava, Inc. From 2003 to 2008 he was the Vice President of Finance and Strategic Planning at Fasst Search & Transfer, Inc./Microsoft Corporation. Mr. Lin is a graduate of Hofstra University with a B.B.A. in Finance and holds a M.B.A. from Babson College.

 

David Stewart. Mr. Stewart has served as our Chief Technology Officer since September 2014. Mr. Stewart previously served as our Executive Vice President of Technology since May 2013, and was previously our Vice President of Technology and Product Development since December 2010. From December 2007 until December 2010, Mr. Stewart was our Lead Developer. Mr. Stewart is a 2009 graduate of the University of California Irvine with a B.S. degree in Informatics.

 

Damon Stein. Mr. Stein has served as our General Counsel since January 2007. Mr. Stein received his B.A. degree from the University of California at Berkeley. He was then awarded a partial academic scholarship to Pepperdine University where he received his J.D./M.B.A. Mr. Stein is licensed to practice law in California.

 

Mario Marsillo Jr. Mr. Marsillo has been a director since April 2014. Mr. Marsillo is the Managing Director of Private Equity for Network 1 Financial Securities Inc., or Network 1, a New Jersey based FINRA member firm offering a wide array of investment banking services and has been with Network 1 since 2010. Prior to his association with Network 1, Mr. Marsillo acquired Skyebanc, Inc., a registered broker dealer, with a specialty towards private equity, and served as its Vice President of Private Equity and Business Development. Mr. Marsillo currently holds the Series 7, 63 79, 99 and 24 FINRA qualifying examinations. Mr. Marsillo attended the City University of New York.

 

We believe Mr. Marsillo is qualified to serve as a director because Mr. Marsillo is a sophisticated businessman with investment banking and private equity experience, was an early investor in us and has previously assisted us in raising capital.  

 

Gregory Akslerud. Mr. Akselrud has been a director since April 2014. Mr. Akselrud is a founder and partner of Stubbs, Alderton & Markiles, LLP, or Stubbs Alderton, a Southern California based business law firm with corporate, public securities, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property and business litigation practice groups, and joined Stubbs Alderton in 2002. Mr. Akselrud chairs Stubbs Alderton’s Internet, Digital Media and Entertainment practice group and has extensive experience representing public companies at all stages of their growth. In addition to working as a full time attorney, Mr. Akselrud is an Adjunct Professor of Law at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. Mr. Akselrud is a member of the California Bar. Mr. Akselrud received his B.A. from University of California at Los Angeles and his J.D., cum laude, from Loyola Law School.

 

We believe Mr. Akselrud is qualified to serve as a director because Mr. Akselrud advises a wide range of public and private clients across a number of industries, including companies in digital media, Internet, entertainment, technology, consumer electronics and apparel, and has extensive experience representing public companies at all stages of their growth.

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires that our executive officers, directors and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of our equity securities file reports of ownership on Form 3 and changes in ownership on Form 4 or 5 with the SEC. Such executive officers, directors and ten percent stockholders are also required by the SEC rules to furnish to us copies of all Section 16(a) reports that they file. Based solely on our review of the copies of such forms received by us, or written representations from certain reporting persons that they were not required to file a Form 5, we believe that, during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, our executive officers, directors and ten percent stockholders complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to such persons, except that one Form 4 to report a grant of warrants to David Stewart, our Chief Technology Officer, was inadvertently filed late due to an administrative error.

 

 
24

 

 

Code of Ethics

 

We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct Ethics that applies to the registrant's principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. We will provide a copy of our Code of Ethics, free of charge, upon request.

 

Committees of the Board of Directors

 

Our Board of Directors has not yet established any committees, including an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee or a Nominating Committee. We may establish an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee in 2015, but this will depend on our ability to attract and retain new directors. The typical functions of such committees are currently being undertaken by our Board of Directors.

 

Audit Committee Financial Expert

 

Currently no member of our Board of Directors is an audit committee financial expert.

 

Item 11. Executive Compensation.

 

The following table sets forth, for the last two completed fiscal years, all compensation paid, distributed or accrued for services rendered to us by (i) all individuals serving as our principal executive officer or acting in a similar capacity during the last completed fiscal year, regardless of compensation level; (ii) our three most highly compensated executive officers other than the principal executive officer who were serving as executive officers at the end of the last completed fiscal year and whose total compensation exceeded $100,000; and (iii) up to two additional individuals for whom disclosure would have been provided pursuant to (ii) above but for the fact that the individual was not serving as our executive officer at the end of the last completed fiscal year:

 

Summary Compensation Table

Name and Principal Position

Year

 

Salary

($)

   

Bonus

($)

   

Stock Awards

   

Option

Awards

($) (1)

   

Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation

($)

   

Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings

   

All Other Compensation

($) (2)

   

Total

($)

 

Brian Ross,

2014

    283,250       -       -       -       -       -       19,800       303,050  
Chief Executive Officer 2013     281,000       -       -       -       -       -       21,678       302,678  

Santi Pierini, Chief Operating Officer and President of CAKE Division

2014

    226,385       -       -       1,636,824 (3)     -       -       11,770       1,874,978  

Michael Lin,

2014

    283,250       -       -       986,214 (4)     -       -       18,112       1,287,576  
Chief Financial Officer 2013     101,538       -       -       257,220 (5)     -       -       -       358,758  

David Stewart,

2014

    283,250       -       -       1,260,575 (6)     -       -       10,542       1.554.367  
Chief Technology Officer 2013     230,125       -       -       -       -       -       6,960       237,085  

Jeff McCollum,

2014

    301,935       -       -       -       -       -       14,124       316,059  
President of CAKE Division (7) 2013     363,541       -       -       -       -       -       23,062       386,603  

 

  

(1)

The grant date fair dollar value recognized for the stock option awards was determined in accordance with ASC Topic 718. For a disclosure of the assumptions made in the valuation please refer to footnote 10 in our financial statements filed under Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

  

(2)

Includes health-related insurance paid by us on behalf of the officer. 

  

(3)

Includes options to purchase up to 650,000 shares of our Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.50 granted on March 13, 2014, vesting quarterly over three years ($474,500) and a 5-year warrant to purchase up to 1,650,000 shares of our Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.33 granted on December 12, 2014, vesting quarterly over three years ($1,162,324).  

  

(4)

5-year warrant to purchase up to 1,400,000 shares of our Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.33 granted on December 12, 2014, vesting quarterly over three years.

  

(5)

Options to purchase up to 600,000 shares of our Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.87 granted on August 7, 2013, vesting quarterly over three years.

  (6) 5-year warrant to purchase up to 2,000,000 shares of our Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.19 granted on September 18, 2014, vesting quarterly over three years.
  (7) Terminated on September 8, 2014.
 
25

 

 

We have no plans or arrangements with respect of remuneration received or that may be received by our executive officers named in the table above to compensate such officers in the event of termination of employment (as a result of resignation, retirement or change of control) or a change of responsibilities following a change of control, except if we elect to terminate (i) Mr. Ross’, or Mr. Stewart’s employment without cause during the term of his respective employment agreement as described below, each shall be entitled to a severance payment of the greater of the remaining payments due on the term of the agreement or an annual base salary of one year, and all unvested options, bonuses and other compensation shall vest on the date of termination, or (ii) Mr. Pierini’s employment without cause, he shall be entitled to a severance payment of 50% of his annual base salary of one year. 

 

Employment Agreements

 

We have written employment agreements with all of our employees. The main terms of the executive employment agreements of Brian Ross, our Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, Santi Pierini, our President and Chief Operating Officer and President of our CAKE division, Michael Lin, our Chief Financial Officer, and David Stewart, our Chief Technology Officer are summarized below.

 

Mr. Ross’s employment agreement was amended, effective as of November 9, 2012, and continues until the earlier of December 31, 2017 or its earlier termination or expiration. Under the agreement Mr. Ross is entitled to an annual base salary of $275,000. Mr. Ross is entitled to an annual raise of three percent and additional annual raises and bonuses at the discretion of our Board of Directors. Any bonuses awarded will not exceed thirty percent of Mr. Ross’s base salary. If we do not make monthly salary payments during the term of his employment, such salary will accrue without interest. Mr. Ross is entitled to other benefits, including, reimbursement for reasonable business expenses and health insurance premiums. In addition, in 2007 and 2012, Mr. Ross was granted non-qualified stock options to purchase up to an aggregate of 5,100,000 of our shares, of which 4,325,000 are exercisable at December 31, 2014. The employment agreement may be terminated by us without cause upon 30-days prior written notice. If we elect to terminate Mr. Ross’s employment without cause during the term of his employment, he shall be entitled to a severance payment of the greater of the remaining payments due on the term of the agreement or an annual base salary of one year and all unvested options, bonuses and other compensation shall vest on the date of termination.  We may also terminate the agreement and Mr. Ross’s employment upon his illness or disability for a continuous period of more than 45 days, his death or for cause. The agreement contains customary confidentiality and assignment of work product provisions.

 

Mr. Pierini’s employment agreement, as amended, was originally entered into on February 10, 2014 and Mr. Pierini’s employment is at will. Under the agreement, as amended, Mr. Pierini is entitled to an annual base salary of $291,747. If we terminate Mr. Pierini’s employment without cause, he shall be entitled to a severance payment of 50% of his annual base salary. Mr. Pierini is entitled to other benefits including reimbursement for reasonable business expenses and payment of health insurance premiums. Additionally, Mr. Pierini was granted non-qualified stock options to purchase up to an aggregate of 650,000 shares of our Common Stock and warrants to purchase up to 1,650,000 shares of our Common Stock, both vesting on a quarterly basis over a period of three years commencing on January 1, 2015. The agreement contains customary confidentiality and assignment of work product provisions.

 

Mr. Lin’s employment agreement, as amended, was originally entered into on June 26, 2013 and Mr. Lin’s employment is at will. Under the agreement, as amended, Mr. Lin is entitled to an annual base salary of $291,747. Mr. Lin is entitled to other benefits including reimbursement for reasonable business expenses and payment towards health insurance premiums. Additionally, Mr. Lin was granted non-qualified stock options to purchase up to an aggregate of 600,000 shares of our Common Stock, of which 250,000 are exercisable at December 31, 2014 and warrants to purchase up to 1,400,000 shares of our Common Stock vesting on a quarterly basis over a period of three years commencing on January 1, 2015. The agreement contains customary confidentiality and assignment of work product provisions. 

 

         Mr. Stewart’s employment agreement was amended, effective May 13, 2013, and continues until December 31, 2017 or its earlier termination or expiration. Under the agreement Mr. Stewart is entitled to an annual base salary of $275,000.  Mr. Stewart is entitled to an annual raise of three percent and additional annual raises and bonuses at the discretion of our Board of Directors.  Any bonuses awarded will not exceed thirty percent of Mr. Stewart’s base salary. If we do not make monthly salary payments during the term of his employment, such salary will accrue without interest. Mr. Stewart is entitled to other benefits including reimbursement for reasonable business expenses and payment of health insurance premiums.  In addition, in 2007, 2009, and 2012 Mr. Stewart was granted non-qualified stock options to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,000,000 of our shares, of which 787,500 are exercisable at December 31, 2014 and warrants to purchase up to 2,000,000 shares of our Common Stock vesting on a quarterly basis over a period of three years commencing on January 1, 2015. The employment agreement may be terminated by us without cause upon 30-days prior written notice.  If we elect to terminate Mr. Stewart’s employment without cause during the term of his employment, he shall be entitled to a severance payment of the greater of the remaining payments due on the term of the agreement or an annual base salary of one year and all unvested options, bonuses, and other compensation shall vest on the date of the termination.  We may also terminate the agreement and Mr. Stewart’s employment upon his illness or disability for a continuous period of more than 45 days, his death or for cause. The agreement contains customary confidentiality and assignment of work product provisions.

 

 
26

 

 

Pension, Retirement or Similar Benefit Plans

 

There are no arrangements or plans in which we provide pension, retirement or similar benefits for directors or executive officers. Our directors and executive officers may receive stock options at the discretion of our Board in the future.

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

 

The following table presents the outstanding equity awards held as of December 31, 2014 by our Executive Officers.

 

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END

                                   

Name

 

Number of Securities

Underlying Unexercised

Options

(#)

Exercisable

   

Number of Securities

Underlying Unexercised

Options

(#)

Unexercisable

   

Option

Exercise

Price

($)

   

Option

Expiration

Date

   

Brian Ross

    2,000,000       -     $ 0.15    

1/1/2017

   
      2,325,000 (1)     775,000 (1)   $ 0.31    

5/24/2022

   

Santi Pierini

    -       650,000 (2)   $ 1.50    

3/13/2014

   
      -       1,650,000 (3)   $ 1.33    

12/12/2019

   

Michael Lin

    250,000 (4)     350,000 (4)   $ 0.87    

8/7/2013

   
      -       1,400,000 (5)   $ 1.33    

12/12/2019

   

David Stewart

    15,000       -     $ 0.15    

1/1/2017

   
      75,000       -     $ 0.55     12/30/2019    
      60,000       -     $ 0.55     8/31/2020    
      637,500 (6)     212,500 (6)   $ 0.31     5/24/2022     
      -       2,000,000 (7)   $ 1.19    

9/18/2019

   

Jeff McCollum (8)

    -       -       -       -    

 

  

(1)

Consists of options to purchase 3,100,000 shares of our Common Stock vesting on a quarterly basis over a period of 36 months commencing on October 1, 2012.

  

(2)

Consists of options to purchase 650,000 shares of our Common Stock vesting on a quarterly basis over a period of 36 months commencing on January 1, 2015.

 

(3)

Consists of warrants to purchase 1,650,000 shares of our Common Stock vesting on a quarterly basis over a period of 36 months commencing on January 1, 2015.

  

(4)

Consists of options to purchase 600,000 shares of our Common Stock vesting on a quarterly basis over a period of 36 months commencing on July 1, 2014.

 

(5)

Consists of warrants to purchase 1,400,000 shares of our Common Stock vesting on a quarterly basis over a period of 36 months commencing on January 1, 2015.

 

(6)

Consists of options to purchase 850,000 shares of our Common Stock vesting on a quarterly basis over a period of 36 months commencing on October 1, 2012.

 

(7)

Consists of warrants to purchase 2,000,000 shares of our Common Stock vesting on a quarterly basis over a period of 36 months commencing on January 1, 2015.

 

(8)

Terminated on September 8, 2014. All previously issued options were forfeited upon termination.

 

Director Compensation 

 

The following table presents the compensation paid as of December 31, 2014 to our non-employee Directors.

 

Name

 

Fees earned or paid in

cash

($)

 

Stock

awards

($)

 

Option

awards

($) (1)

 

Non-equity incentive plan compensation

($)

Non-qualified deferred compensation earnings

($)

All other compensation

($)

 

Total

($)

 

Mario Marsillo, Jr.

    24,000         26,400             50,400  

Gregory Akselrud

    24,000         26,400             50,400  

 

  

(1)

The grant date fair dollar value recognized for the stock option awards was determined in accordance with ASC Topic 718. For a disclosure of the assumptions made in the valuation please refer to footnote 10 in our financial statements filed under Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

On April 4, 2014, we expanded the size of the Board of Directors to three directors and appointed Mario Marsillo Jr. and Gregory Akselrud to the Board of Directors, each to serve until our next annual meeting of shareholders. In consideration of their service to us as directors, each of Mr. Marsillo and Mr. Akselrud will receive an annual compensation of $24,000 and were granted options to purchase 30,000 shares of our Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.80 per share, vesting in eight equal quarterly installments commencing on July 4, 2014 and expiring on April 4, 2024.

 

The Chairman of our Board of Directors, Mr. Brian Ross, does not receive any additional compensation for his services as a director.  Mr. Ross is a current executive officer. Mr. Ross's compensation is fully reflected in the Summary Compensation Table above.

 

 
27

 

 

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholders Matters.

 

As of March 17, 2015 we had 62,823,458 shares of our Common Stock issued and outstanding. The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock as of March 17, 2015 by:

 

each person known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our Common Stock;

 

 

our directors;

 

 

each of our executive officers named in the compensation tables in Item 11; and

 

 

all of our executive officers and directors as a group.

 

   

COMMON STOCK

 
                 
   

# OF

   

% OF

 

NAME

 

SHARES

   

CLASS

 
                 

Brian Ross (1)

    10,960,667       16.2 %

Santi Pierini (2)

    545,888       0.9 %

Michael Lin (3)

    583,380       0.9 %

David Stewart (4)

    1,262,567       2.0 %

Damon Stein (5)

    5,491,667       8.3 %

Mario Marsillo Jr.(6)

    796,724       1.3 %

Gregory Akselrud(6)

    15,000    

 

< 0.1 %

Jeff McCollum (7)

    1,890,000       3.0 %

All current officers and directors as a group (7 persons)

    19,655,892       26.6 %

 

 

(1)

Includes 4,841,667 options vested and that will vest within the next 60 days.

 

(2)

Includes 270,833 options vested and that will vest within the next 60 days and 275,055 warrants vested and that will vest within the next 60 days.

 

(3)

Includes 350,000 options vested and that will vest within the next 60 days and 233,380 warrants vested and that will vest within the next 60 days.

 

(4)

Includes 929,167 options vested and that will vest within the next 60 days and 333,400 warrants vested and that will vest within the next 60 days.

 

(5)

Includes 3,516,667 options vested and that will vest within the next 60 days and 225,000 exercisable warrants.

 

(6)

Includes 15,000 options vested and that will vest within the next 60 days.

 

(7)

Terminated on September 8, 2014.

 

Securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans.

 

The table below provides information regarding all compensation plans as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year (including individual compensation arrangements) under which equity securities of the registrant are authorized for issuance.  Our stock option plan, or the Plan, was adopted effective as of December 15, 2006 and options may be granted under the Plan through December 14, 2016.  The Plan was amended effective as of May 17, 2006, May 5, 2011, and May 27, 2012 to increase the number of shares available under the Plan for non-qualified stock options from 4,300,000 to 22,500,000. The Plan was amended effective May 24, 2012 to increase the number of options that may be granted in any year to any optionee from 2,000,000 to 4,000,000 shares. The Plan permits the grant of both incentive stock options (if our shareholders approve the plan) and non-qualified stock options. In addition, in 2014, we issued warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 5,050,000 shares of our Common Stock to certain of our executive officers as individual compensation arrangements.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

Plan category

 

Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights

(a)

   

Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights

(b)

   

Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))

(c)

 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

 

n/a

   

n/a

   

n/a

 

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

    19,458,336     $ 1.23       2,172,929  

Total

    19,458,336     $ 1.23       2,172,929  

 

Item 13. Certain Relationship and Related Party Transactions, and Director Independence.

 

Related Person Transactions

 

None.

  

Director Independence

 

As our Common Stock is currently quoted on the OTCQB Marketplace, we are not subject to the rules of any national securities exchange which require that a majority of a listed company’s directors and specified committees of the Board of Directors meet independence standards prescribed by such rules. We believe that Mr. Marsillo and Mr. Akselrud would qualify as "independent" if we were subject to the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market.

 
28

 

 

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

The following table summarizes the fees of RBSM LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm billed for each of the last two fiscal years for audit services and other services:

 

Fee Category

 

2014

   

2013

 
                 

Audit Fees (1)

  $ 74,500     $ 70,500  

Audit Related Fees

    -       -  

Tax Fees (2)

    10,000       5,000  

All Other Fees

    -       -  
                 

Total Fees

  $ 84,500     $ 75,500  

 

(1)  Consists of fees for professional services rendered in connection with the review of our three quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and the financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

(2)  Consists of fees relating to our tax compliance and tax planning.

 

We do not have an Audit Committee. Our Board of Directors pre-approves all auditing services and permissible non-audit services provided to us by our independent registered public accounting firm. All fees listed above were pre-approved in accordance with this policy.

 

 

 

 

PART IV

 

 Item 15.  Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 

a.

Index to Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules

 

  

Page

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

F-2

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

F-3

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013

F-4

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013

F-6

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013

F-7

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

F-8 – F-19

 

All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the SEC are not required under the related instructions, or are inapplicable, and therefore have been omitted.

  

b. Exhibits

 

EXHIBIT NO.

DESCRIPTION

  

  

3.1

Composite Copy of Certificate of Incorporation, as amended as of October 10, 2014 (incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (file no. 000-52635) filed on November 12, 2014).

  

  

3.2

Certificate of Designation of 10% Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (file no. 333-139586)  filed on December 22, 2006).

 

 
29

 

 

3.3

Certificate of Designation of 8% Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB (file no. 000-52635) filed on August 13, 2007).

  

  

3.4

By-laws of the Company (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (file no. 333-139586) filed on December 22, 2006).

  

  

3.5

Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Designation of 8% Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K (file no. 000-52635) filed on March 29, 2012).

  

  

4.1

Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (file no. 333-139586) filed on December 22, 2006).

  

  

4.2

Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant for 8% Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB filed on August 13, 2007).

  

  

4.3

Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant (incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (file no. 000-52635) filed on May 6, 2010).

  

  

4.4

Common Stock Purchase Warrant (incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (file no. 000-52635) filed on September 27, 2012).

  

  

4.5

Warrant to Purchase Stock issued September 27, 2012 (incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (file no. 000-52635) filed on September 27, 2012).

 

 

4.6

Warrant to Purchase Stock issued March 17, 2014 (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (file No 000-52635) filed on March 19, 2014).

   

4.7*, **

Warrant to Purchase Stock issued September 18, 2014.

   

4.8*, **

Warrant to Purchase Stock issued December 12, 2014.

   

4.9*, **

Warrant to Purchase Stock issued December 12, 2014.

 

 

10.1*

Employment Agreement, dated November 9, 2012, between Accelerize New Media, Inc. and Brian Ross (incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (file no. 000-52635) filed on November 14, 2012). 

 

 

10.2*

Employment Agreement, dated November 9, 2012, between Accelerize New Media, Inc. and Damon Stein (incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (file no. 000-52635) filed on November 14, 2012).

  

  

10.3*

Employment Agreement, dated May 13, 2013, between Accelerize New Media, Inc. and Jeff McCollum (incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (file no. 000-52635) filed on May 13, 2013).

  

  

10.4*

Employment Agreement, dated May 13, 2013, between Accelerize New Media, Inc. and David Stewart (incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (file no. 000-52635) filed on May 13, 2013).

   

10.5*

Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement, dated as of September 8, 2014, between Accelerize Inc. and David Stewart (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (file no. 000-52635) filed on September 9, 2014).

   

10.6*

Employment Agreement, dated as of June 26, 2013, between Accelerize New Media, Inc. and Michael Lin (incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (file no. 000-52635) filed on May 13, 2013).

 

 

10.7*

Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement, dated as of January 8, 2014, between Accelerize New Media, Inc. and Michael Lin (incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (file no. 000-52635) filed on May 13, 2013).

   

10.8*

Amendment No. 2 to Employment Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2014, between Accelerize New Media, Inc. and Michael Lin (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (file no. 000-52635) filed on August 11, 2014).

 

10.9*,**

Amendment No. 3 to Employment Agreement, dated as of January 12, 2015, between Accelerize Inc. and Michael Lin.

   

10.10*

Employment Agreement, dated as of February 10, 2014, between Accelerize New Media, Inc. and Santi Pierini (incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (file no. 000-52635) filed on May 13, 2013).

   

10.11*,**

Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement, dated as of July 9, 2014, between Accelerize New Media, Inc. and Santi Pierini

 

 

10.12*

Amendment No. 2 to Employment Agreement, dated as of September 18, 2014, between Accelerize Inc. and Santi Pierini (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (file no. 000-52635) filed on September 18, 2014).

   

 

 
30 

 

 

10.13*,**

Amendment No. 3 to Employment Agreement, dated as of January 12, 2015, between Accelerize Inc. and Santi Pierini.

   

10.14*

Accelerize New Media, Inc. Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (file no. 333-139586) filed on December 22, 2006).

 

 

10.15*

Form of Stock Option Agreement (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (file no. 333-139586) filed on December 22, 2006).

 

 

10.16*

Amendment No. 1 to Accelerize New Media, Inc. Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (file no. 000-52635) filed on May 10, 2011).

  

 

10.17*

Amendment No. 2 to Accelerize New Media, Inc. Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (file no. 000-52635) filed on May 10, 2011).

  

  

10.18*

Amendment No. 3 to Accelerize New Media, Inc. Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K (file no. 000-52635) filed on March 29, 2012).

 

 

10.19*

Amendment No. 4 to Accelerize New Media, Inc. Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (file no. 000-52635) filed on May 29, 2012). 

  

10.20

Referral Agreement, dated November 22, 2013, between Accelerize New Media, Inc. and Digital River Marketing Solutions, Inc. (portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a grant of confidential treatment). (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (file no. 000-52635) filed on December 10, 2013).

   

10.21**

Amendment No. 1 to Referral Agreement, dated December 22, 2014, between Accelerize Inc. and Digital River Marketing Solutions, Inc.

  

  

10.22

Standard Multi-Tenant Office Lease-Gross, dated January 8, 2014, between Accelerize New Media, Inc. and Ferrado Bayview, LLC (incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (file no. 000-52635) filed on January 14, 2014).

 

 

10.23

Loan and Security Agreement, dated March 17, 2014, between Accelerize New Media, Inc. and Square1 Bank (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (file no. 000-52635) filed on March 19, 2014).

   

10.24

First Amendment to Loan Agreement, dated September 30, 2014, between Accelerize New Media, Inc. and Square1 Bank (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (file no. 000-52635) filed on October 6, 2014).

 

 

10.25

Intellectual Property Security Agreement, dated March 17, 2014, between Accelerize New Media, Inc. and Square1 Bank (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (file no. 000-52635) filed on March 19, 2014).

   

10.26

Form of Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (file no. 000-52635) filed on May 13, 2013).

   

10.27

Sublease, dated as of May 1, 2014, between Accelerize New Media, Inc. and Panattoni Development Company, Inc. (incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (file no. 000-52635) filed on May 13, 2013).

 

 23.1**

Consent of RBSM LLP.

 

 

31.1**

Rule 13a-14(a) Certification.

 

 

31.2**

Rule 13a-14(a) Certification.

   

32.1***

Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

 

 

32.2***

Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

 

101.1**

The following materials from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) the Balance Sheets, (ii) the Statements of Operations, (iii) the Statements of Cash Flows, (iv) Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income, (v) Statements of Shareholders’ Equity, and (vi) related notes to these financial statements.

 

*     Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

**   Filed herewith.

*** Furnished herewith.

 

 
31 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

ACCELERIZE INC.

 

By:    /s/ Brian Ross

Brian Ross

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Date: March 18, 2015

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

SIGNATURE

  

TITLE

DATE

  

  

  

  

By: /s/ Brian Ross

  

Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

March 18, 2015

Brian Ross

  

(Principal executive officer)

  

       

By: /s/ Michael Lin

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

Michael Lin

 

(Principal financial and accounting officer)

March 18, 2015

       

By: /s/ Mario Marsillo Jr.

 

Director

March 18, 2015

Mario Marsillo Jr.

     
       

By: /s/ Gregory Akselrud

 

Director

March 18, 2015

Gregory Akselrud

     

 

 
32

 

 

ACCELERIZE INC.

 (Formerly Accelerize New Media, Inc.)

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2014

 

Index to Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules

 

The following consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules are included on the pages indicated:

  

  

Page

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

F-2

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2014 and 2013

F-3

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013

F-4

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013

F-5

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013

F-6

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013

F-7

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

F-8 – F-19

    

 
F-1

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

Board of Directors

Accelerize Inc.

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Accelerize Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2014. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Accelerize Inc. at December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2014, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

/s/ RBSM LLP.

 

March 18, 2015

New York, New York

 

 
F-2

 

 

ACCELERIZE INC.

 (Formerly Accelerize New Media, Inc.)

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

   

December 31,

   

December 31,

 

 

 

2014

   

2013

 
ASSETS                
                 

Current Assets:

               

Cash

  $ 1,130,667     $ 1,157,315  

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for bad debt of $212,113 and $59,072, respectively

    1,749,566       1,041,671  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

    204,268       85,026  

Total current assets

    3,084,501       2,284,012  
                 

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $826,802 and $171,856, respectively

    1,424,858       756,696  

Customer relationships, net of accumulated amortization of $703,704 and $37,037, respectively

    296,296       962,963  

Deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $19,317

    37,750       -  

Other assets

    132,988       -  

Total assets

  $ 4,976,393     $ 4,003,671  
                 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

               
                 

Current Liabilities:

               

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

  $ 1,202,495     $ 1,703,007  

Deferred revenues

    206,475       83,311  

Total current liabilities

    1,408,970       1,786,318  

Line of credit

    2,900,000       -  

Total liabilities

    4,308,970       1,786,318  
                 

Stockholders' Equity:

               

Common stock; $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 62,816,554 and 58,394,975 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

    62,815       58,394  

Additional paid-in capital

    19,618,153       17,908,278  

Accumulated deficit

    (19,002,574

)

    (15,749,319

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

    (10,971

)

    -  
                 

Total stockholders’ equity

    667,423       2,217,353  
                 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

  $ 4,976,393     $ 4,003,671  

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 
F-3

 

 

ACCELERIZE INC.

 (Formerly Accelerize New Media, Inc.)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

   

Years Ended

December 31,

 
   

2014

   

2013

 
                 
                 

Revenues:

  $ 16,460,030     $ 9,653,865  

Cost of revenue

    4,143,988       2,063,481  

Gross profit

    12,316,042       7,590,384  
                 

Operating expenses:

               

Research and development

    3,142,851       1,425,215  

Sales and marketing

    6,170,653       3,829,175  

General and administrative

    6,224,070       2,520,631  

Total operating expenses

    15,537,574       7,775,021  
                 

Operating loss

    (3,221,532

)

    (184,637

)

                 

Other income (expense):

               

Interest income

    18,185       14,745  

Interest expense

    (49,908

)

    (39,869

)

Total other (expenses)

    (31,723

)

    (25,124

)

                 

Loss from continuing operations

    (3,253,255

)

    (209,761

)

                 

Discontinued operations

               

Gain from the disposal of discontinued operations

    -       303,537  

Income from discontinued operations, net

    -       303,537  
                 

Net (loss) income

  $ (3,253,255

)

  $ 93,776  
                 

Earnings per share:

               

Basic

               

Continuing operations

  $ (0.05

)

  $ -  

Discontinued operations

  $ -     $ 0.01  

Net income

  $ (0.05

)

  $ 0.01  
                 

Diluted

               

Continuing operations

  $ (0.05

)

  $ -  

Discontinued operations

  $ -     $ -  

Net income

  $ (0.05

)

  $ -  
                 
                 

Basic weighted average common shares outstanding

    60,844,694       57,022,279  

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

    60,844,694       73,475,411  

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 
F-4

 

 

ACCELERIZE INC. 

(Formerly Accelerize New Media, Inc.)

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME

 

 

   

Years Ended

December 31,

 
   

2014

   

2013

 
                 
                 

Net (loss) income:

  $ (3,253,255

)

  $ 93,776  
                 

Foreign currency translation loss

    (10,971

)

    -  

Total other comprehensive loss

    (10,971

)

    -  
                 

Comprehensive (loss) income

  $ (3,264,226

)

  $ 93,776  

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 
F-5

 

 

ACCELERIZE INC.

 (Formerly Accelerize New Media, Inc.)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)

From January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2014

 

   

Common Stock

   

Additional

Paid-in

   

Retained Earnings (Accumulated

   

Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

   

Total

Stockholders'

 
   

Shares

      Amount    

Capital

   

Deficit)

   

Income

    Equity   
                                                 

Balance, January 1, 2013

    55,992,605     55,991     16,267,461     (15,843,095

)

  -     $ 480,357  
                                                 

Conversion of convertible notes payable

    131,411       132       52,431       -       -       52,563  

Exercise of warrants

    2,250,769       2,251       1,082,874       -       -       1,085,125  

Cashless exercise of options

    20,190       20       1,001       -       -       1,021  

Fair value of options

    -       -       504,511       -       -       504,511  

Net income

    -       -       -       93,776       -       93,776  

Ending balance, December 31, 2013

    58,394,975     $ 58,394     $ 17,908,278     $ (15,749,319

)

  $ -     $ 2,217,353  

Exercise of warrants

    4,371,189       4,371       1,074,659       -       -       1,079,030  

Cashless exercise of options

    50,390       50       (49

)

    -       -       1  

Fair value of options

    -       -       603,198       -       -       603,198  

Fair value of warrants issued in connection with line of credit

    -       -       32,067       -       -       32,067  

Net income

    -       -       -       (3,253,255

)

    -       (3,253,255

)

Foreign currency translation

    -       -       -       -       (10,971 )     (10,971

)

Ending balance, December 31, 2014

    62,816,554     $ 62,815     $ 19,618,153     $ (19,002,574

)

  $ (10,971 )   $ 667,423  

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 
F-6

 

ACCELERIZE INC.

 (Formerly Accelerize New Media, Inc.)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

   

Years Ended

December 31,

 
   

2014

   

2013

 
                 

Cash flows from operating activities:

               

Net income

    (3,253,255

)

    93,776  
                 

Gain from the disposal of discontinued operations

    -       (303,537

)

Loss on note receivable

    -       19,889  

Adjustments to reconcile loss from continuing operations to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:

               

Depreciation and amortization

    1,321,613       113,588  

Amortization of debt discount

    19,317       21,293  

Provision for bad debt

    153,041       40,864  

Fair value of services in lieu of proceeds from note receivable

    -       246,361  

Fair value of options

    603,198       504,511  

Amortization of original issuance discount

    -       (11,889

)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

               

Accounts receivable

    (860,935

)

    (408,717

)

Other assets

    (132,989

)

    (11,555

)

Prepaid expenses

    (119,242

)

    (32,561

)

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    (475,512

)

    418,480  

Deferred revenues

    123,164       58,695  

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

    (2,621,600

)

    749,198  
                 

Cash flows used in investing activities:

               

Proceeds from sale of lead generation business

    -       137,176  

Capitalized software for internal use

    (724,722

)

    (564,644

)

Capital expenditures

    (598,386

)

    (216,307

)

                 

Net cash used in investing activities

    (1,323,108

)

    (643,775

)

                 

Cash flows provided by financing activities:

               

Principal repayments on notes payable

    -       (266,180

)

Proceeds from line of credit, net

    2,900,000       -  

Payment of financing costs

    (50,000

)

    -  

Proceeds from exercise of warrants and options

    1,079,031       1,086,146  

Net cash provided by financing activities

    3,929,031       819,966  
                 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

    (10,971

)

    -  
                 

Net (decrease) increase in cash

    (26,648

)

    925,389  
                 

Cash, beginning of year

    1,157,315       231,926  
                 

Cash, end of year

  $ 1,130,667     $ 1,157,315  
                 

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

               

Cash paid for interest

  $ -     $ 22,546  

Cash paid for income taxes

  $ -     $ -  
                 

Non-cash investing and financing activities:

               

Fair value of warrants issued in connection with line of credit

  $ 32,067     $ -  

Conversion of notes payable to common stock

  $ -     $ 52,564  

Acquisition of customer relationships and corresponding increase in accounts payable

  $ -     $ 1,000,000  

  

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 
F-7

 

 

ACCELERIZE INC.

 (Formerly Accelerize New Media, Inc.)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 1: ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

 

Accelerize Inc., or the Company, a Delaware corporation, incorporated on November 22, 2005, owns and operates CAKE, a Software-as-a-Service platform providing online tracking and analytics solutions for advertisers and online marketers.

 

The Company provides software solutions for businesses interested in optimizing their digital advertising spend.

 

In September 2012, the Company sold its online marketing services business to a third party to allocate more resources to its software business.

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the results of operations of Cake Marketing UK Ltd. All material intercompany accounts and transactions between the Company and its subsidiary have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

NOTE 2: SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reporting amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. Actual results will differ from those estimates. Included in these estimates are assumptions about collection of accounts receivable, useful life of fixed assets and intangible assets, and assumptions used in Black-Scholes-Merton, or BSM, valuation methods, such as expected volatility, risk-free interest rate, and expected dividend rate.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

The Company considers all highly liquid temporary cash investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased, to be cash equivalents.

 

Accounts Receivable

 

The Company’s accounts receivable are due primarily from advertisers and marketers. Collateral is currently not required. The Company also maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of the Company’s customers to make payments. The Company periodically reviews these estimated allowances, including an analysis of the customers’ payment history and creditworthiness, the age of the trade receivable balances and current economic conditions that may affect a customer’s ability to make payments as well as historical collection trends for its customers as a whole. Based on this review, the Company specifically reserves for those accounts deemed uncollectible or likely to become uncollectible. When receivables are determined to be uncollectible, principal amounts of such receivables outstanding are deducted from the allowance.

 

   

December 31,

2014

   

December 31,

2013

 
                 

Allowance for doubtful accounts

  $ 212,113     $ 59,072  

 

  

Concentration of Credit Risks

 

The Company is subject to concentrations of credit risk primarily from cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable.

 

The Company’s cash and cash equivalents accounts are held at a financial institution and are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or the FDIC, up to $250,000. During 2014 and 2013, the Company has reached bank balances exceeding the FDIC insurance limit. To reduce its risk associated with the failure of such financial institutions, the Company periodically evaluates the credit quality of the financial institutions in which it holds deposits.

 

 
F-8

 

 

The Company's accounts receivable are due from customers, generally located in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Canada. None of the Company’s customers accounted for more than 10% of its accounts receivable at December 31, 2014 and 2013. The Company does not require any collateral from its customers.

 

The Company’s note receivable was due from the purchaser of its online marketing services division. The Company had a security interest in all of the assets sold to the purchaser.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

The Company recognizes revenue on arrangements in accordance with ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition. Revenue is recognized only when the price is fixed or determinable, persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the service is performed, and collectability of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured.

 

The Company’s software-as-a-service, or SaaS, revenues are generated from implementation and training fees and a monthly license fee, supplemented by per transaction fees paid by customers for monthly platform usage. The initial term of the customer contract is generally one year with one of two general cancellation policies. Each party may cancel the contract within the initial period or after the initial period, with 30-days’ prior notice. The Company does not provide any general right of return for its delivered items. Services associated with the implementation and training fees have standalone value to the Company’s customers, as there are third-party vendors who offer similar services to the Company’s services. Accordingly, they qualify as separate units of accounting. The Company allocates a fair value to each element deliverable at the recognition date and recognizes such value when the services are provided. The Company bases the fair value of the implementation and training fees on third-party evidence and the monthly license fee on vendor-specific objective evidence. Fees charged by third-party vendors for implementation and training services do not vary significantly from the fees charged by the Company. Services associated with implementation and training fees are generally rendered within a month from the initial contract date. The value attributed to the monthly license fees as well as the fees associated with monthly transaction-based platform usage are recognized in the corresponding period.

 

Product Concentration

 

The Company generates its revenues from software licensing, usage, and related transaction fees.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The Company accounts for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis in accordance with ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, or ASC 820. ASC 820 establishes a common definition for fair value to be applied to existing generally accepted accounting principles that require the use of fair value measurements, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosure about such fair value measurements.

 

ASC 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Additionally, ASC 820 requires the use of valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. These inputs are prioritized below:

 

Level 1:

Observable inputs such as quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 

 

Level 2:

Observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.

 

 

Level 3:

Unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market data, which require the use of the reporting entity’s own assumptions.


Marketable securities consist of equity securities of a publicly-traded company.  These securities are valued using inputs observable in active markets for identical securities and are therefore classified as Level 1 within our fair value hierarchy. The Company regarded the decline in fair value of its marketable securities to be “other than temporary;” accordingly the unrealized loss was recorded in the net income from discontinued operations in the Company’s statements of operations as these securities were sold in connection with the disposition of the Company’s online marketing services division.

 

 Additional Disclosures Regarding Fair Value Measurements

 

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued expenses, and lines of credit approximate their fair value due to the short term maturity of these items.

 

 
F-9

 

 

Convertible Instruments

 

The Company evaluates and accounts for conversion options embedded in its convertible instruments in accordance with ASC 815, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, or ASC 815.

 

ASC 815 generally provides three criteria that, if met, require companies to bifurcate conversion options from their host instruments and account for them as free standing derivative financial instruments. These three criteria include circumstances in which (a) the economic characteristics and risks of the embedded derivative instrument are not clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics and risks of the host contract, (b) the hybrid instrument that embodies both the embedded derivative instrument and the host contract is not re-measured at fair value under otherwise applicable generally accepted accounting principles with changes in fair value reported in earnings as they occur and (c) a separate instrument with the same terms as the embedded derivative instrument would be considered a derivative instrument.

 

The Company accounts for convertible instruments (when it has determined that the embedded conversion options should not be bifurcated from their host instruments) in accordance with ASC 470-20, Debt with Conversion and Other Options. Accordingly, the Company records, when necessary, discounts to convertible notes for the intrinsic value of conversion options embedded in debt instruments based upon the differences between the fair value of the underlying common stock at the commitment date of the note transaction and the effective conversion price embedded in the note. Debt discounts under these arrangements are amortized over the term of the related debt to their earliest date of redemption. The Company also records when necessary deemed dividends for the intrinsic value of conversion options embedded in preferred shares based upon the differences between the fair value of the underlying common stock at the commitment date of the note transaction and the effective conversion price embedded in the note.

 

ASC 815-40, Contracts in Entity’s own Equity, provides that, among other things, generally, if an event is not within the entity’s control, such contract could require net cash settlement and shall be classified as an asset or a liability.

 

The Company needs to determine whether the instruments issued in the transactions are considered indexed to the Company’s own stock.  While the Company’s 12% convertible promissory notes, or 12% Convertible Notes Payable, and the warrants issued in connection with the Company’s 12% note payable, or 12% Note Payable, did not provide variability involving sales volume, stock index, commodity price, revenue targets, among other things, they did provide for variability involving future equity offerings and issuance of equity-linked financial instruments.  While the instruments did not contain an exercise contingency, the settlement of the 12% Convertible Notes Payable and the warrants issued in connection with the 12% Note Payable would not equal the difference between the fair value of a fixed number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock and a fixed stock price. Accordingly, they were not indexed to the Company’s stock price.

 

However, the Company believes that there is no value to the derivative liabilities associated with such instruments at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. The Company’s obligations under its 12% Convertible Notes Payable and the warrants issued in connection with the 12% Note Payable have been satisfied without issuing additional consideration to the holders.

  

 Advertising

 

The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred.

 

 

   

2014

   

2013

 
                 

Advertising expense

  $ 432,100     $ 76,502  

 

Income Taxes

 

Income taxes are accounted for in accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 740, Accounting for Income Taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts expected to be realized, but no less than quarterly.

 

 
F-10

 

 

Foreign Currency Translation

 

The Company’s reporting currency is U.S. Dollars. The functional currency of the Company’s subsidiary in the United Kingdom is the British Pounds. The translation from the British Pounds to U.S. dollars is performed for balance sheet accounts using exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date and for revenue and expense accounts using the average exchange rate in effect during the period. The resulting translation adjustments are recorded as a component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss). Foreign currency translation gains and losses arising from exchange rate fluctuation on transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are included in the consolidated statements of operations.

 

Software Development Costs

 

Costs incurred in the research and development of software products and significant upgrades and enhancements thereto during the preliminary project stage and the post-implementation operation stage are expensed as incurred. Costs incurred for maintenance and relatively minor upgrades and enhancements are expensed as incurred. Costs associated with the application development stage of new software products and significant upgrades and enhancements thereto are capitalized when 1) management implicitly or explicitly authorizes and commits to funding a software project and 2) it is probable that the project will be completed and the software will be used to perform the function intended. The Company capitalized internal-use software development costs of approximately $725,000 during 2014. The Company amortizes such costs once the new software products and significant upgrades and enhancements are completed. The unamortized internal-use software development costs amounted to approximately $333,000 at December 31, 2014. The Company’s amortization expenses associated with capitalized software development costs amounted to approximately $391,000 during 2014. Amortization of internal-use software is reflected in cost of revenues.

 

Share-Based Payment

 

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation, or ASC 718. Under the fair value recognition provisions of this topic, stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as an expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is the vesting period.

 

The Company has elected to use the BSM option-pricing model to estimate the fair value of its options, which incorporates various subjective assumptions including volatility, risk-free interest rate, expected life, and dividend yield to calculate the fair value of stock option awards. Compensation expense recognized in the statements of operations is based on awards ultimately expected to vest and reflects estimated forfeitures. ASC 718 requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.

 

Segment Reporting

 

The Company generated revenues from one source, its SaaS business, during 2014 and 2013. The Company's chief operating decision maker evaluates the performance of the Company based upon revenues and expenses by functional areas as disclosed in the Company's statements of operations.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

Recent accounting pronouncements have been issued but deemed by management to be outside the scope of relevance to the Company. 

 

 
F-11

 

 

Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share

 

Basic earnings per share are calculated by dividing income available to stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during each period. Diluted earnings per share are computed using the weighted average number of common and dilutive common share equivalents outstanding during the period. Dilutive common share equivalents consist of shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options and warrants (calculated using the modified-treasury stock method).

 

   

2014

   

2013

 

Numerator:

               

Loss from continuing operations

  $ (3,253,255

)

  $ (209,761

)

Income from discontinued operations

    -       303,537  

Net (loss) income

  $ (3,253,255

)

  $ 93,776  
                 

Denominator:

               

Denominator for basic earnings per share--weighted average shares

    60,844,694       57,022,279  

Effect of dilutive securities- when applicable:

               

Stock options

    -       12,918,395  

Warrants

    -       3,534,737  

Denominator for diluted earnings per share--adjusted weighted-average shares and assumed conversions

    60,844,694       73,475,411  
                 

Earnings (loss) per share:

               

Basic

               

Continuing operations, as adjusted

  $ (0.05

)

  $ -  

Discontinued operations

  $ -     $ 0.01  

Net earnings per share- basic

  $ (0.05

)

  $ 0.01  
                 

Diluted

               

Continuing operations, as adjusted

  $ (0.05

)

  $ -  

Discontinued operations

  $ -     $ -  

Net earnings per share-diluted

  $ (0.05

)

  $ -  
                 
                 

Weighted-average anti-dilutive common share equivalents

    15,839,938       7,469,336  

 

 
F-12

 

 
Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment are recorded at cost and are depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives of three years. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Significant renewals and betterments are capitalized.

 

Property and equipment consist of the following at:

 

   

December 31,

   

December 31,

 
   

2014

   

2013

 

Internal use software costs

  $ 1,289,367     $ 564,644  

Computer equipment and software

    476,963       269,933  

Office furniture and equipment

    187,263       93,975  

Leasehold improvements

    298,067       -  
      2,251,660       928,552  

Accumulated depreciation

    (826,802

)

    (171,856

)

    $ 1,424,858     $ 756,696  

 

   

2014

   

2013

 

Depreciation expense

  $ 263,691     $ 76,551  

Amortization expense on internal software

  $ 391,256     $ 56,387  

 

 

NOTE 3: DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

 

During 2013, the Company recognized $303,537 of gain from the disposal of discontinued operations from in-kind services provided by the buyer of its online marketing services business. The sale of the Company’s online marketing services business closed in September 2012. All obligations of the buyer to the Company were satisfied by December 2013.  

 

The components of the gain from disposal of discontinued operations are as follows:

  

   

Years Ended

December 31,

 
   

2014

   

2013

 

Disposition proceeds

  $ -     $ -  

Proceeds from service note receivable

    -     $ 57,176  

Carrying value of net tangible and intangible assets transferred

    -       -  

Services received in lieu of proceeds on note receivable

    -       266,250  

Write-down of note receivable

    -       (19,889 )

Gain from disposal of discontinued operations

  $ -     $ 303,537  

 

 
F-13

 

 

NOTE 4: NOTE RECEIVABLE

 

As part of the consideration received from the buyer, or the Buyer, of the Company’s online marketing services division, the Company received on the sale date a note receivable with a face value of $162,000 and a maturity date of February 15, 2015. The note bears interest at an annual rate of 5%. The Buyer was able to satisfy this obligation by paying $100,000 plus accrued interest by January 1, 2013, which it did not do. The note provides for monthly principal repayments of $6,000, plus accrued interest, commencing in November 2012.

 

The excess of the face value of the note receivable of $162,000 over the payment of $100,000 which could have satisfied the obligation by January 1, 2013 was recorded as original issue discount.

 

June 2013 Amendment

 

During June 2013, the Company modified the terms of the $162,000 note receivable and $500,000 note receivable by 1) cancelling the $162,000 note upon receipt of a $50,000 payment in June 2013, and 2) applying the remaining $70,427 balance of the $162,000 note to the remaining $380,699 balance of the $500,000 note receivable. Upon application of the $70,427 balance to the remaining $380,699 balance of the $500,000 note receivable, the total outstanding balance, including accrued interest, of $451,127 of the $500,000 note receivable was cancelled. In connection with this cancellation, the Buyer agreed to pay $451,127, which may be paid with in-kind services, plus interest accruing quarterly at a rate of 3.25% per annum pursuant to a note receivable on December 27, 2014.

 

December 2013 Amendment

 

During December 2013, the Company generated proceeds of $57,176 in satisfaction of all obligations under the remaining note receivable from the Buyer.

 

Because of the contingent nature of the $451,127 note receivable, the Company wrote down the value of the pre-existing $162,000 note receivable to $0, and recognized any gain from the disposal of discontinued operations associated with such note if and when the in-kind services are provided by the Buyer. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the remaining balance to be received as in-kind services under the note receivable amounted to $0 and $490,000, respectively.

 

NOTE 5: PREPAID EXPENSES

 

At December 31, 2014, the Company’s prepaid expenses consisted primarily of tradeshow costs. At December 31, 2013, the Company’s prepaid expenses consisted primarily of prepaid insurance and rent.

 

NOTE 6: CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS

 

During November 2013, the Company completed its acquisition of certain customer relationships of a former competitor. Pursuant to the acquisition, the Company paid $1 million payable in four installments of $250,000 every quarter, beginning March 2014. The Company paid the final installment of $250,000 on December 2014 and has no outstanding balance under this arrangement at December 31, 2014. Additionally, the former competitor will refer potential clients to the Company. The Company has capitalized the acquisition cost, which approximates fair value of the customer relationships, which amounts to $1,000,000 at December 31, 2014. The Company amortizes such customer relationships over a period of 18 months. The Company incurred amortization expense related to the customer relationships of $666,667 during 2014. The amortization amount for the Customer relationships over the remaining useful life is as follows:

 

2015

  $ 296,296  

Total Remaining Unamortized Customer Relationship Expense

  $ 296,296  

 

 
F-14

 

 

NOTE 7: DEFERRED REVENUES

 

The Company’s deferred revenues consist of prepayments made by certain of the Company’s customers and undelivered implementation and training fees.  The Company decreases the deferred revenues by the amount of the services it renders to such clients when provided.

 

   

December 31,

2014

   

December 31,

2013

 
                 

Deferred revenues

  $ 206,475     $ 83,311  

 

NOTE 8: CONVERTIBLE NOTES PAYABLE AND NOTE PAYABLE

 

12% Convertible Notes Payable & 12% Note Payable

 

The Company satisfied its remaining obligations under the 12% Convertible Notes Payable in August 2013. The 12% Convertible Notes Payable bore interest at 12% per annum.

 

The Company satisfied its remaining obligations under the 12% Note Payable in August 2013. The 12% Note Payable, as amended, bore interest at a rate of 12% per annum and matured in August 2013.

  

The Company made principal repayments of $142,500 on its 12% Note Payable during 2013.

 

 

   

2014

   

2013

 
                 

Interest and amortization expense associated with the 12% Convertible Notes Payable and 12% Note Payable

  $ -     $ 39,869  

  

 There were no outstanding balances on convertible notes payable as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013.

 

 

NOTE 9: LINE OF CREDIT

 

On September 30, 2014, the Company entered into an amendment of its Line of Credit with the Lender to borrow up to a maximum of $6,000,000 at our discretion, an increase from up to $3,000,000 that the Company was permitted to borrow under the original Line of Credit entered into on March 17, 2014. Amounts borrowed will accrue interest at the prime rate in effect from time to time plus 1.25%, not to be less than 5.5% per annum, provided that in no event shall the accrued interest payable with respect to any month be less than $10,000. Accrued interest on amounts borrowed is payable monthly and all other amounts borrowed will be payable in full on the maturity date of March 17, 2016, which maturity date may be extended to March 17, 2017 if the Company provides the Lender with a fully-funded business plan acceptable to the Lender by January 15, 2016 and no event of default has occurred. The Line of Credit may be earlier terminated without a prepayment fee.

 

The Line of Credit, as amended, contains covenants including, but not limited to, covenants to achieve specified Adjusted EBITDA levels and customer renewal levels, limiting capital expenditures, requiring minimum liquidity and restricting the Company’s ability to pay dividends, purchase and sell assets outside the ordinary course and incur additional indebtedness. As of December 31, 2014, the Company was in compliance with these covenants. The occurrence of a material adverse change, as defined, will be an event of default under the Line of Credit, in addition to other customary events of default. The Company granted the Lender a security interest in all of its personal property and intellectual property.

 

The Company owed $2,900,000 under the Line of Credit at December 31, 2014. The interest rate for the amount borrowed was 5.5% per annum.

 

In connection with the Line of Credit, the Company issued to the Lender a warrant to purchase up to 46,875 shares of the Company's Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.60 per share. The warrant expires on March 17, 2017. The fair value of the warrants amounted to $32,067. Additionally, the Company paid $50,000 to the Lender in financing costs. The fair value of the warrants as well as the financing costs not expensed, which amounted to $25,000, were capitalized as deferred financing costs at December 31, 2014. The Company recognized an amortization expense of $19,317 in connection with such deferred financing costs at December 31, 2014.

 

   

2014

   

2013

 
                 

Interest and amortization expense associated with the Line of Credit

  $ 20,482     $ -  
 
F-15

 

 

NOTE 10: STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

Common Stock

 

 

A summary of the issuance of shares of Common Stock, related consideration and fair value of transaction, during 2013 is as follows: 

 

   

Number of

Shares of

Common Stock

   

Carrying Value

at Issuance

   

Carrying Value

at Issuance

(per share)

 

Exercise of warrants

    2,250,769     $ 1,085,125       $0.15 - 0.65  

Exercise of options

    20,190       1,021       0.05  

Conversion of 12% Notes Payable to Common Stock

    131,411       52,564       0.33 - 0.55  

 

A summary of the issuance of shares of Common Stock, related consideration and fair value of transaction, during 2014 is as follows: 

 

   

Number of

Shares of

Common Stock

   

Carrying Value

at Issuance

   

Carrying Value

at Issuance

(per share)

 

Exercise of warrants

    4,371,189     $ 1,079,130     $ 0.35  

Exercise of options

    50,390       1     $ 0.48  

 

 

Warrants

 

 

The following is a summary of the Company’s activity related to its warrants between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2014:

 

   

Warrants

   

Weighted

Average Price

Per Share

   

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual

Term

 

Balance, January 1, 2013

    12,420,755     $ 0.46          

Granted

    -       -          

Exercised

    (2,250,769

)

    0.48          

Forfeitures

    (4,636,861

)

    0.58          

Outstanding at December 31, 2013

    5,533,125     $ 0.34       1.41  

Granted

    5,096,875       1.28          

Exercised

    (4,777,375

)

    0.48          

Forfeitures

    (512,750

)

    0.58          

Outstanding at December 31, 2014

    5,341,875     $ 1.23       4.70  

 

The fair value of the warrants granted or modified during 2014 is based on the BSM Model using the following assumptions:

 

   

2014

 

Effective Exercise price

  $ 1.19 - 1.60  

Effective Market price

  $ 1.19 - 1.60  

Volatility

    63-64

%

Risk-free interest

    0.91-1.1

%

Terms (years)

    3-5  

Expected dividend rate

    0

%

 

 
F-16

 

 

Stock Option Plan

 

On December 15, 2006, the Company's Board of Directors and stockholders approved the Accelerize New Media, Inc. Stock Option Plan, or the Plan. The total number of shares of capital stock of the Company that may be subject to options under the Plan is 22,500,000 shares of common stock, following an increase from 10,000,000 shares to 15,000,000 shares of common stock in May 2011, and from 15,000,000 shares to 22,500,000 shares of Common Stock on March 27, 2012, from either authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares. The individuals who are eligible to receive option grants under the Plan are employees, directors and other individuals who render services to the management, operation or development of the Company or its subsidiaries and who have contributed or may be expected to contribute to the success of the Company or a subsidiary. Every option granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by a written stock option agreement in such form as the Board shall approve from time to time, specifying the number of shares of common stock that may be purchased pursuant to the option, the time or times at which the option shall become exercisable in whole or in part, whether the option is intended to be an incentive stock option or a non-incentive stock option, and such other terms and conditions as the Board shall approve.

 

The share-based payment is based on the fair value of the outstanding options amortized over the requisite period of service for option holders, which is generally the vesting period of the options. The fair value of the options granted during 2014 and 2013 is based on the BSM model using the following assumptions:

 

 

 

2014

 

 

2013

 

Effective Exercise price

 

 

$1.10

-

1.80

 

 

 

$0.58

-

1.60

 

Effective Market price

 

 

$1.10

-

1.80

 

 

 

$0.58

-

1.60

 

Volatility

 

 

63

-

64%

 

 

 

61

-

64%

 

Risk-free interest

 

 

0.91

-

1.1%

 

 

 

0.35

-

1.58%

 

Terms (years)

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

Expected dividend rate

 

 

 

0%

 

 

 

 

 

0%

 

 

 

 

   

Options

   

Weighted

Average Price

Per Share

   

Weighted

Average

Remaining

Contractual

Term

   

Aggregate

Intrinsic

Value

 

Balance, January 1, 2013

    17,540,000     $ 0.28                  

Granted

    1,667,500       0.31                  

Exercised (1)

    (22,122

)

    0.38                  

Forfeitures

    (51,210

)

    0.30                  

Outstanding at December 31, 2013

    19,134,168     $ 0.27       6.4     $ 20,908,118  

Granted

    2,152,500       1.38                  

Exercised (2)

    (218,332

)

    .79                  

Forfeitures

    (6,660,000

)

    0.79                  

Outstanding at December 31, 2014

    14,408,336     $ 0.50       6.81     $ 14,573,511  

Exercisable at December 31, 2014

    8,927,407       0.30       5.83     $ 10,792,040  

 

(1)   equals to cashless exercise of 20,190 shares of common stock

(2)   equals to cashless exercise of 79,158 shares of common stock

 

The share-based payment is based on the fair value of the outstanding options amortized over the requisite period of service for option holders, which is generally the vesting period of the options.

 

   

2014

   

2013

 

Weighted-average grant date fair value

  $ 0.66     $ 0.36  

Fair value of options

  $ 603,198     $ 504,511  

 

 
F-17

 

 

The total compensation cost related to non-vested awards not yet recognized amounted to approximately $2,144,420 at December 31, 2014 and the Company expects that it will be recognized over the following weighted-average period of 30 months.

 

If any options granted under the Plan expire or terminate without having been exercised or cease to be exercisable, such options will be available again under the Plan. All employees of the Company and its subsidiaries are eligible to receive incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options. Non-employee directors and outside consultants who provided bona-fide services not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital raising transaction are eligible to receive non-qualified stock options. Incentive stock options may not be granted below their fair market value at the time of grant or, if to an individual who beneficially owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all stock classes of the Company or a subsidiary, the option price may not be less than 110% of the fair value of the common stock at the time of grant. The expiration date of an incentive stock option may not be longer than ten years from the date of grant. Option holders, or their representatives, may exercise their vested options up to three months after their employment termination or one year after their death or permanent and total disability. The Plan provides for adjustments upon changes in capitalization.

 

The Company’s policy is to issue shares pursuant to the exercise of stock options from its available authorized but unissued shares of common stock. It does not issue shares pursuant to the exercise of stock options from its treasury shares.

 

 

NOTE 11: INCOME TAXES

 

A reconciliation of the Company’s effective tax rate to the statutory federal rate is as follows: 

 

   

Years Ended

December 31,

 
   

2014

   

2013

 

Statutory federal rate

    34.0

%

    34.0

%

State income taxes net of federal income tax benefit

    5.2

%

    5.2

%

Permanent differences for tax purposes

    -0.6

%

    49.6

%

Change in valuation allowance

    -38.6

%

    -88.8

%

Effective income tax rate:

    0.0

%

    0.0

%

 

The components of the deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:  

  

   

December 31,

 
   

2014

   

2013

 

Deferred tax assets:

               

Net operating loss carryovers

  $ 3,359,000     $ 2,567,000  

Stock-based compensation

    732,000       495,000  

Other temporary differences

    174,000       201,000  

Total deferred tax assets

    4,265,000       3,264,000  

Valuation allowance

    (4,265,000

)

    (3,264,000

)

Net deferred tax asset

  $ -     $ -  

 

At December 31, 2013, the Company had available net operating loss carryovers of approximately $6.7 million that may be applied against future taxable income and expires at various dates between 2026 and 2031, subject to certain limitations. The Company has a deferred tax asset arising substantially from the benefits of such net operating loss deduction and has recorded a valuation allowance for the full amount of this deferred tax asset since it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax asset may not be realized.  The valuation allowance for the deferred tax asset increased by $1 million and decreased by $164,000 during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 respectively.  The net change in the valuation allowance is primarily due to the net loss in 2014, which increased net operating loss carryforward in 2014 compared to 2013.

  

 
F-18

 

NOTE 12: SEGMENTS

 

The Company operates in one business segment. Percentages of sales by geographic region during 2014 and 2013 were approximately as follows:

 

 

   

2014

   

2013

 

United States

    75

%

    89

%

Europe

    17

%

    9

%

Other

    8

%

    2

%

 

 

NOTE 13: COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

The Company entered into a 3-year lease for certain office space in Newport Beach, California, effective on September 1, 2011.  Under the terms of the lease, the Company pays monthly base rent of $9,970. Effective March 1, 2014, the Company cancelled the lease.

 

During January 2014, the Company entered into a 4-year lease for certain office space in Newport Beach, effective February 1, 2014. Under the terms of the lease, the Company initially pays monthly base rent of approximately $22,000 increasing incrementally to approximately $25,000.

 

During May 2014, the Company entered into a one year sublease in Newport Beach, effective May 1, 2014. The Company initially pays monthly base rent of approximately $10,000 per month, increasing to approximately $11,000 per month by the end of the lease term.

 

During July 2014, the Company entered into a five year lease for certain office space in a business center in London, England, which commenced on July 30, 2014. The base rent is GBP 89,667 per year and the estimated service charges for the lease are GBP 45,658 per year. The Company will pay an estimated GBP 60,000 for furniture, cabling and build out of the office space.

 

Future annual minimum payments required under operating lease obligations at December 31, 2014 are as follows:

 

   

Future Minimum

Lease Payments

 

2015

  $ 363,303  

2016

  $ 346,733  

2017

  $ 303,415  

2018

  $ 25,366  

 

The Company entered into certain employment agreements with four of its executive officers which are still effective as of December 31, 2014. The agreements provide that they will generally terminate on December 31, 2017. Under the agreements, the executive officers are entitled to annual bases salaries of $291,747. Additionally, the agreements provide for an increase in base salary of 3% on January 1, 2014 and every year thereafter. If the Company elects to terminate the agreement(s) without cause, the respective executive officer is entitled to a severance payment of the greater of one-year annual base salary or the remaining payments due based on the agreement.

 

The commitments under such agreements over the next year are as follows:

 

Year

 

Commitments

 
         

2015

  $ 1,326,125  

2016

  $ 1,365,910  

2017

  $ 1,461,522  

2018

  $ 1,505,378  

 

Legal Proceedings

 

From time to time, the Company may become involved in legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company is not presently a party to any legal proceedings that it currently believes, if determined adversely to the Company, would individually or taken together have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, operating results, financial condition or cash flows.

 

NOTE 14: SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

None

 

F-19